Systems and methods for providing a storyline selection interface

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided herein for providing a storyline based media content. At least two storylines may be identified, each storyline specifying an order of providing a plurality of episodes from a plurality of interrelated series. Identifiers of the plurality of episodes are displayed. Then identifiers of a first set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the first storyline are In graphically modified to indicate relevance to the first storyline. Identifiers of a second set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the second storyline are also graphically modified to indicate relevance to the second storyline. A first and second storyline identifier are generating for display to enable storyline selection. The interrelated series are then provided to a user device in the order specified by the selected storyline.

BACKGROUND

Modern media entrainment systems can often provide several series to theuser that are interrelated. For example, a first series may be madeavailable for the user's viewing. In addition to the first series, theentrainment system may be able to provide additional series related tothe first series, such as sequel series, prequel series, crossoverseries. In addition, the entrainment system may be able to provideseries that include one or more shared characters with the first seriesand/or share the same universe as the first series. Currently, modernmedia entrainment systems can only provide such interrelated series insequential order, or in the order manually selected by the user. Atbest, a recommendation to watch an interrelated series when the firstseries concludes may be provided. However, such interrelated series mayoften have storylines that traverse more than one of the interrelatedseries. However, modern systems have no way to indicate an availabilityof such storylines, much less an ability to provide a way for a user toselect and request a display of such a storyline. Consequently, modernmedia entrainment systems may lack any way to provide a storyline-basedpresentation of content contained across a plurality of interrelatedseries.

SUMMARY

To this end and others, systems and methods are provided that improvethe media entertainment systems by, among other things, improving theway the interrelated series are provided to the user, thus improving theconsumption experience for users by providing a storyline selectioninterface. In particular, the media guidance application may identify atleast two storylines that traverse some episodes of several interrelatedseries. For example, a storyline of a minor character from the firstseries may continue in several episodes of a sequel and/or crossoverseries. In another example, a backstory for a certain plot event shownin the first series may be available in the prequel series. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may generate identifiers(e.g., rectangular blocks) for each episode of the plurality of theinterrelated series. The media guidance application may then modify afirst set of identifiers (relevant to the first storyline) in a firstway. The media guidance application may also modify a second set ofidentifiers (relevant to the second storyline) in a second way. Forexample, episodes may be marked in different colors, or transformed intodifferent shapes. In another example, a first arrow may be displayedthat intersects the first set, and a second arrow may be drawn thatintersects the second set. The user may then be able to select the firstor the second storyline, and the episodes related to that storyline maythen be provided in an order defined by that storyline. In this way, themedia guidance application provides an improved functionality to themedia system, by allowing the media system to present to the user mediacontent in an order defined by the storyline, as opposed to the usualway of presenting episodes in a sequential order. The improvement allowsthe user to view the storyline without the need to manually skip betweenepisodes via manual selection of episodes, rewinding, orfast-forwarding.

In some embodiments, a media guidance application may identify at leasttwo storylines, each storyline specifying an order for providing aplurality of episodes from a plurality of interrelated series. Forexample, the interrelated series may include a first series, as well asat least one sequel, prequel, crossover, or a series set in the sameuniverse (e.g., a fictional universe) as the first series.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay identifiers of the plurality of episodes. For example, the mediaguidance application may generate a rectangle (or another shape)representing each episode. In some embodiments, the rectangles may thenbe arranged on a screen of the user equipment. In some embodiments, theepisodes may be arranged according to the order defined by the series.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify identifiers of a first set of the plurality of episodes that arerelevant to the first storyline to indicate relevance to the firststoryline. For example, identifiers of episodes related to the firststoryline may be highlighted in a first color (e.g., blue). In someembodiments, a first arrow may be drawn by the media guidanceapplication, such that the arrow crosses only the plurality ofidentifiers of episodes that are relevant to the first storyline.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify identifiers of a second set of the plurality of episodes that arerelevant to the second storyline to indicate relevance to the secondstoryline. For example, identifiers of episodes related to the secondstoryline may be highlighted in a second color (e.g., red). In someembodiments, a second arrow may be drawn by the media guidanceapplication, such that the arrow crosses only the plurality ofidentifiers of episodes that are relevant to the second storyline.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay a first storyline identifier. For example, the media guidanceapplication may generate a selection input (e.g., a button or radioselection input) indicative of the first storyline. In some embodiments,the media guidance application may also generate for display a secondstoryline identifier. For example, the media guidance application maygenerate a second selection input (e.g., a button or radio selectioninput) indicative of the second storyline.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application, in response to theuser selecting the first or the second storyline identifier, may providethe interrelated series to a user device in the order specified by theselected storyline. For example, the media guidance application may, inresponse to the user pressing a button indicative of the firststoryline, play only the episodes (or portions of episodes) that arerelevant to the first storyline in the order defined by the firststoryline. In another example, the media guidance application may, inresponse to the user pressing a button indicative of the secondstoryline, play only the episodes (or portions of episodes) that arerelevant to the second storyline in the order defined by the secondstoryline.

In some embodiments, a media guidance application may identify at leasttwo storylines relating to a plurality of interrelated series. Forexample, the interrelated series may include a first series, as well asat least one sequel, prequel, crossover, or a series set in the sameuniverse as the first series. Each series may comprise a plurality ofsequential episodes. Each storyline may identify an order of providingthe interrelated series that is different from the sequential order ofthe episodes in the plurality of series. In addition, each storyline maytraverse at least a portion of an episode of a first series of theplurality of interrelated series and a portion of an episode of a secondseries of the plurality of interrelated series.

For example, interrelated series may include a first series thatincludes 10 episodes (referred as S1.EP1-S1.EP10), a second series whichis a sequel to the first series and includes 5 episodes (referred to asS2.EP1-S2.EP5), and a third series prequel that includes 3 episodes(referred as S3.EP1-S3.EP3). In some embodiments, the first storylinemay relate to a minor character who appears in episodes S1.EP4, andS1.EP5 of the first series. The storyline of the minor character may becontinued in a sequel (e.g., at episode S2.EP1). In some embodiments,the second storyline may relate to an event that occurs in episodeS1.EP6 of the first series. The backstory for that event may bepresented in the prequel series at episodes S3.EP1-S3.EP3. Consequently,the first storyline may define a sequence of episodes (e.g., S1.EP4,S1.EP5, S2.EP1). The second storyline may similarly define a sequence ofepisodes (e.g., S1.EP6, S3.EP1, S3.EP2, S3.EP3). In some embodiments,the storyline may identify portions of episodes instead of entireepisodes. For example, the first storyline may include the first 10minutes of an episode, or any time-slice of any episode.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may then generatefor display a storyline selection interface. For example, the storylineinterface may be generated in response to a user command (e.g., a userselecting “storyline selection” option). In another example, thestoryline interface may be generated in response to the series reachinga certain point, where the media guidance application may decide tooffer the user an opportunity to watch the series in the storylineorder, as opposed to the original order of the series. The storylineselection interface may be generated as describe below.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay an identifier for each of the episodes of each of the pluralityof interrelated series. For example, the media guidance application maygenerate a rectangle (or another shape) representing each episode. Insome embodiments, the rectangles may then be arranged on a screen of theuser equipment. In some embodiments, the episodes may be arrangedaccording to the order defined by the series.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may identify a firstset of the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series that aretraversed by a first storyline of the at least two storylines. Forexample, the media guidance application may check if metadata of eachepisode contains information that indicates that the first storylinetraverses this episode. For example, an episode may include metadatathat explicitly indicates “relevant to first storyline.” In anotherembodiment, an episode may include metadata that matches metadata of thefirst storyline (e.g., the metadata of the first storyline and metadataof an episode may refer to the same character.) For example, the mediaguidance application may identify a first set of episodes as includingepisodes S1.EP4, S1.EP5, S2.EP1.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify identifiers of the first set of the plurality of episodes toindicate relevance to the first storyline. For example, identifiers ofepisodes S1.EP4, S1.EP5, S2.EP1 may be highlighted in a first color. Inanother embodiment, an arrow may be drawn that intersects identifiers ofepisodes S1.EP4, S1.EP5, S2.EP1.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may identify asecond set of the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series thatare traversed by a second storyline of the at least two storylines. Forexample, the media guidance application may check if metadata of eachepisode contains information that identifies that the second storylinetraverses this episode. For example, the media guidance application mayidentify a second set of episodes that includes episodes S1.EP6, S3.EP1,S3.EP2, S3.EP3.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify identifiers of the second set of the plurality of episodes toindicate relevance to the second storyline. For example, identifiers ofepisodes S1.EP4, S1.EP5, S2.EP1 may be highlighted in a second color. Inanother embodiment, an arrow may be drawn that intersects identifiers ofepisodes S1.EP6, S3.EP1, S3.EP2, S3.EP3.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay a first storyline identifier. For example, the media guidanceapplication may generate a button or radio input for selecting the firststoryline by the user. In some embodiments, the media guidanceapplication may also generate for display a second storyline identifier.For example, the media guidance application may generate a button orradio input for selecting the second storyline by the user.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving a selection of the firststoryline identifier from the user, the media guidance application mayprovide interrelated series to a user device in the order specified bythe first storyline. For example, the media guidance application mayprovide episodes S1.EP4, S1.EP5, S2.EP1 to the user's equipment. Forexample, these episodes may be played on the user's TV or computerscreen. In another example, the media guidance application may recordthese episodes (e.g., on user's DVR) for later presentation in theaforementioned order.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving a selection of the secondstoryline identifier from the user, the media guidance application mayprovide interrelated series to a user device in the order specified bythe second storyline. For example, the media guidance application mayprovide episodes S1.EP6, S3.EP1, S3.EP2, S3.EP3 to the user's equipment.For example, these episodes may be played on the user's TV or computerscreen. In another example, the media guidance application may recordthese episodes (e.g., on user's DVR) for later presentation in theaforementioned order.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interrelated series comprises afirst series, and a second series that is at least one of a crossover,sequel, and prequel, with relation to the first series

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may retrieve a firststoryline metadata and retrieve a second storyline metadata. Forexample, the first storyline metadata may comprise at least one ofcharacter metadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata. Similarly,the second storyline metadata may comprise at least one of charactermetadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may, for eachparticular episode of the plurality of interrelated series, retrieveparticular metadata associated with that particular episode. Forexample, the media guidance application may retrieve metadata of S1.E1(or any other particular episode) from a remote database. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may, in response todetermining that the particular metadata matches the first storylinemetadata, include the particular episode in the first set of theepisodes. For example, if metadata of S1.E1. matches metadata (e.g.,character name) of the first storyline, the media guidance applicationmay include S1.E1. in the first set. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may, in response to determining that the particularmetadata matches the second storyline metadata, include the particularepisode in the second set of the episodes. For example, if metadata ofS1.E1. matches metadata (e.g., character name) of the second storyline,the media guidance application may include S1.E1. in the second set.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay a geometric shape for each of the episodes of each of theplurality of interrelated series. For example, each episode may berepresented by a rectangle. In some embodiments, the media guidanceapplication may then generate for display visual connectors that connectthe geometric shapes based on the sequential order of the series. Forexample, all episodes of the first series may be connected by arrows(e.g., S1.E1 may be connected by an arrow to S1.E2, which in turn may beconnected to S1.E3, etc.)

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may modify thegeometric shapes of identifiers of episodes from the first set toinclude a first color. For example, these identifiers may be highlightedin blue. In some embodiments, the media guidance application may modifythe geometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the second set toinclude a second color, different from the first color. For example,these identifiers may be highlighted in red.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may modify thegeometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the first set tocomprise a first size. For example, these identifiers may be changedfrom rectangles to octagons. In some embodiments, the media guidanceapplication may modify the geometric shape of identifiers of episodesfrom the second set to comprise a second size different from the firstsize. For example, these identifiers may be changed from rectangles toelongated ovals.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may generate a firstelongated shape (e.g., an arrow) indicative of the first storyline,wherein the first elongated shape intersects geometric shapes ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set. For example, an arrow may bedrawn to intersect identifiers of episodes from the first set. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may generate a secondelongated shape (e.g., a second arrow) indicative of the secondstoryline, wherein the second elongated shape intersects geometricshapes of identifiers of episodes from the second set. For example, asecond arrow may be drawn to intersect identifiers of episodes from thesecond set. The first and second arrows may be of different color ordifferent thickness.

In some embodiments, for each particular geometric shape intersected bythe first elongated shape, the media guidance application may modify theparticular geometric shape based on which portion of an episodeassociated with the particular geometric shape is traversed by the firststoryline. For example, if only the first half of an episode is relevantto the first storyline, an arrow may be drawn such that it crosses thefirst half of the geometric shape associated with that episode.

In some embodiments, for each particular geometric shape intersected bythe second elongated shape, the media guidance application may modifythe particular geometric shape based on which portion of an episodeassociated with the particular geometric shape is traversed by thesecond storyline. For example, if only the second third of an episode isrelevant to the second storyline, an arrow may be drawn such that itcrosses the second third of the geometric shape associated with thatepisode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the disclosure will beapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows an illustrative media guidance interface that may providestoryline selection interface, in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 1B shows another illustrative media guidance interface that mayprovide storyline selection interface, in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 1C shows yet another illustrative media guidance interface that mayprovide storyline selection interface, in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows another illustrative media guidance interface that maydynamically include or exclude a video, in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows yet another illustrative media guidance interface that maydynamically include or exclude a video, in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an illustrative user equipment device, inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an illustrative media system in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative flow diagram for a process of generatinga storyline interface, in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosure;

FIG. 7 depicts another illustrative flow diagram for a process ofgenerating a storyline interface, in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure;

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative flow diagram for a process of creatingsets of episodes, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative flow diagram for a process of generatingepisode identifiers, in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosure; and

FIG. 10 depicts yet another illustrative flow diagram for a process ofgenerating a storyline interface, in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing an improvedstoryline selection interface that allows a media system to provide auser with a storyline-based presentation of episodes (or episodefragments) of several interrelated series without the need for the userto manually skip around the episodes, fast-forward through episodes, orrewind through episodes, thus providing an improved and streamlinednavigation interface and enhanced user experience.

For example, the media guidance application may identify at least twostorylines among several interrelated series (e.g., series that includesequels, prequels or crossovers). Each storyline may specify an order ofproviding episodes (or portions of episodes) that is different from thenormal, sequential order of episodes in the series. The media guidanceapplicginthation may display identifiers of the plurality of episodes,for example by displaying rectangles connected by the arrows, where eachrectangle represents an episode and the arrows indicate the originalorder of the episodes. The media guidance application may thengraphically modify identifiers of episodes relevant to the firststoryline in a first way (e.g., by tinting the rectangle with a firstcolor). The media guidance application may then graphically modifyidentifiers of episodes relevant to the second storyline in a second way(e.g., by tinting the rectangle with a second color). The colors mayvisually identify which episodes are relevant to each storyline. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may then allow the user toselect one of the storylines, and present the episodes in the orderspecific to the selected storyline.

As referred to herein, the term “series” or “media asset series” refersto any kind of media (e.g., video, audio, or multimedia) content thatincludes distinct sequential episodes that may be watched separatelyfrom one another. For example, the television series Game of Thrones mayinclude sequential episodes “Episode 1,” “Episode 2,” . . . “Episode 7.”A series may be intended to be provided in a sequential order accordingto episode numbering via a television, a computer, or any other userdevice.

As referred to herein, the term “episode” refers to any kind of media(e.g., video, audio, or multimedia) content that forms a distinct partof a series. Each episode can be watched separately from other episodesof the series. Episodes may be typically arranged sequentially by numbersuch that content of one episodes follows content of a previous episode.

As referred to herein, the term “storyline” refers to any kind of dataor data-structure that defines the order of presentation of episodes, orportions of episodes of a series or of a plurality of interrelatedseries. For example, a storyline related to a particular character maydefine an order of playback of episodes, or portions of episodes, thatrelate to that character. In another example, a storyline associatedwith a particular event may define an order of playback of episodes, orportions of episodes, that relate to events leading up to thatparticular event, the occurrence of that event, and aftermath of thatevent.

The amount of content available to users in any given content deliverysystem can be substantial. Consequently, many users desire a form ofmedia guidance through an interface that allows users to efficientlynavigate content selections and easily identify content that they maydesire. An application that provides such guidance is referred to hereinas an interactive media guidance application or, sometimes, a mediaguidance application or a guidance application.

Interactive media guidance applications may take various forms,depending on the content for which they provide guidance. One typicaltype of media guidance application is an interactive television programguide. Interactive television program guides (sometimes referred to aselectronic program guides) are well-known guidance applications that,among other things, allow users to navigate among and locate many typesof content or media assets. Interactive media guidance applications maygenerate graphical user interface screens that enable a user to navigateamong, locate and select content. As referred to herein, the terms“media asset” and “content” should be understood to mean electronicallyconsumable user assets, such as television programming, as well aspay-per-view programs, on-demand programs (as in video-on-demand (VOD)systems), Internet content (e.g., streaming content, downloadablecontent, Webcasts, etc.), video clips, audio, content information,pictures, rotating images, documents, playlists, websites, articles,books, electronic books, blogs, chat sessions, social media,applications, games, and/or any other media or multimedia and/orcombination of the same. Guidance applications also allow users tonavigate among and locate content. As referred to herein, the term“multimedia” should be understood to mean content that utilizes at leasttwo different content forms described above, for example, text, audio,images, video, or interactivity content forms. Content may be recorded,played, displayed or accessed by user equipment devices, but can also bepart of a live performance.

The media guidance application and/or any instructions for performingany of the embodiments discussed herein may be encoded on computerreadable media. Computer readable media includes any media capable ofstoring data. The computer readable media may be transitory, including,but not limited to, propagating electrical or electromagnetic signals,or may be non-transitory including, but not limited to, volatile andnon-volatile computer memory or storage devices such as a hard disk,floppy disk, USB drive, DVD, CD, media cards, register memory, processorcaches, Random Access Memory (“RAM”), etc.

With the advent of the Internet, mobile computing, and high-speedwireless networks, users are accessing media on user equipment deviceson which they traditionally did not. As referred to herein, the phrase“user equipment device,” “user equipment,” “user device,” “electronicdevice,” “electronic equipment,” “media equipment device,” or “mediadevice” should be understood to mean any device for accessing thecontent described above, such as a television, a Smart TV, a set-topbox, an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) for handling satellitetelevision, a digital storage device, a digital media receiver (DMR), adigital media adapter (DMA), a streaming media device, a DVD player, aDVD recorder, a connected DVD, a local media server, a BLU-RAY player, aBLU-RAY recorder, a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV), a PCmedia server, a PC media center, a hand-held computer, a stationarytelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, aportable video player, a portable music player, a portable gamingmachine, a smart phone, or any other television equipment, computingequipment, or wireless device, and/or combination of the same. In someembodiments, the user equipment device may have a front facing screenand a rear facing screen, multiple front screens, or multiple angledscreens. In some embodiments, the user equipment device may have a frontfacing camera and/or a rear facing camera. On these user equipmentdevices, users may be able to navigate among and locate the same contentavailable through a television. Consequently, media guidance may beavailable on these devices, as well. The guidance provided may be forcontent available only through a television, for content available onlythrough one or more of other types of user equipment devices, or forcontent available both through a television and one or more of the othertypes of user equipment devices. The media guidance applications may beprovided as on-line applications (i.e., provided on a web-site), or asstand-alone applications or clients on user equipment devices. Variousdevices and platforms that may implement media guidance applications aredescribed in more detail below.

One of the functions of the media guidance application is to providemedia guidance data to users. As referred to herein, the phrase “mediaguidance data” or “guidance data” should be understood to mean any datarelated to content or data used in operating the guidance application.For example, the guidance data may include program information, guidanceapplication settings, user preferences, user profile information, medialistings, media-related information (e.g., broadcast times, broadcastchannels, titles, descriptions, ratings information (e.g., parentalcontrol ratings, critic's ratings, etc.), genre or category information,actor information, logo data for broadcasters' or providers' logos,etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition, high definition, 3D,etc.), on-demand information, blogs, websites, and any other type ofguidance data that is helpful for a user to navigate among and locatedesired content selections.

FIG. 1A shows an illustrative media guidance interface on a displayscreen that may provide storyline selection interface, in accordancewith various embodiments of the disclosure. Display 100 shows a mediaguidance interface for storyline-based navigation. In some embodiments,display 100 may display media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. For example, display 100 may display an image. The imagemay be a part of media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. In some embodiments, media content provided by the mediaguidance application includes a plurality of interrelated series thatcontains a plurality of sequential episodes.

In some embodiments, display 100 may include a plurality of identifiersof episodes relating to a plurality of interrelated series. In someembodiments, display 100 may include identifiers for episodes of fourdifferent interrelated series. For example, display 100 may includeidentifiers for Series 1 (Ser. 1), Series 2 (Ser. 2), Series 3 (Ser. 3),and Series 4 (Ser. 1). Series 1 may include episodes 1-5 (Ep. 1-EP. 5),Series 2 may include episodes 1-2 (Ep. 1-EP. 2), Series 3 may includeepisodes 1-3 (Ep. 1-EP. 3), and Series 4 may include episodes 1-3 (Ep.1-EP. 3).

In some embodiments, series 1 may be the original series (e.g., firstseries) that was originally aired. Series 2 may be a prequel series tothe first series. Series 3 may be a crossover series related to thefirst series. Series 4 may be a series that takes place in the samein-show universe as the first series, and may depict events that occurat the same time as the events of the first series occur. In someembodiments, display 100 may also display identifiers for other series,such as sequels, additional crossover, additional prequels, etc.

In some embodiments, the episode identifiers may comprise a certainshape (e.g., rectangle or any other geometric shape). In someembodiments, the episode identifiers may be connected with arrowsdemonstrating the original intended order for each series. For example,with respect to the first series, identifier Ser. 1, Ep. 1 may beconnected to Ser. 1, Ep. 2, which is in turn connected to Ser. 1, Ep. 3,etc. In some embodiments, additional arrows may indicate relationship ofseries with each other. For example, the identifier of Ser. 2, Ep. 2 maybe connected to Ser. 1, Ep. 1 to indicate that the second series is aprequel to the first series. In some embodiments, the placement of theepisode identifiers may be indicative of their relative chronologicalorder. For example, identifiers for Ser. 1, Ep. 3-Ser. 1, Ep. 5 and Ser.4, Ep. 1-Ser. 4, Ep. 3 may have the same horizontal location to indicatethat those episodes depict events that occur roughly at the same time.

In some embodiments, display 100 may include storyline selectioninterface 102. In some embodiments, storyline selection interface 102may include first storyline identifier 108 and second storylineidentifier 110. For examples, first storyline identifier 108 may be abutton (or another selection interface element) labeled “Storyline 1”(or labeled with a text that describes the first storyline). In anotherexample, second storyline identifier 110 may be a button (or anotherselection interface element) labeled “Storyline 2” (or labeled with textthat describes the second storyline). In some embodiments, storylinesection interface 102 may include first graphical label 104 for firststoryline identifier 108, and second graphical label 106 for secondstoryline identifier 110. For example, first graphical label 104 andsecond graphical label 106 may include geometric shapes (e.g., circles)that identify a color associated with the receptive storyline. Forexample, first graphical label 104 may be a blue circle, and secondgraphical label 106 may be a red circle (the second color is representedas a dot pattern in FIG. 1A).

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify the episodes identifiers based on which episodes are relevant tothe first and second storylines. For example, the media guidanceapplication may determine that Ser. 2, Ep. 2, Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep.2; Ser. 4, Ep. 2; and Ser. 4, Ep. 3 (a second set of episodes) arerelevant to the second storyline. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may then modify each identifier of episodesbelonging to the second set of episodes to be indicative of the secondstoryline. For example, the media guidance application may modify eachidentifier of episodes belonging to the second set of episodes toinclude the second color (e.g., red). For example, the backgrounds ofthe identifier may be changed to the second color. In some embodiments,the identifiers may only be modified to include some element in thesecond color. In some embodiments, identifiers may be modified toinclude a second color border or outline.

In some embodiments, similarly, a first set of episodes may beidentified that are relevant to the first storyline. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may then modify eachidentifier of episodes belonging to the first set of episodes to beindicative of the first storyline. For example, the media guidanceapplication may modify each identifier of episodes belonging to thesecond set of episodes to include the first color (e.g., blue).

In some embodiments, the first set of episodes and the second set ofepisodes are modified one at a time, e.g., in response to user input. Insome embodiments, the first set of episodes and the second set ofepisodes are modified simultaneously. In this embodiment, a particularepisode may belong to both the first set and the second set. In someembodiments, the identifier of such a particular episode may be modifiedto be indicative of the first storyline and the second storyline. Forexample, the identifier of such a particular episode may include both afirst and a second color.

In some embodiments, the user may select a storyline by interacting withfirst storyline identifier 108 and second storyline identifier 110(e.g., by pressing the corresponding button). In some embodiments, ifthe user interacts with second storyline identifier 110, the mediaguidance application may provide for display the second set of episodesin the order specified by the second storyline. For example, the mediaguidance application may play the following episodes in order: Ser. 2,Ep. 2; Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep. 2, Ser. 4; Ep. 2, and Ser. 4, Ep. 3.In some embodiments, the media guidance application may schedule theaforementioned episodes for recording on the user equipment for laterpresentation in the order specified by the second storyline. Similaraction may be performed with respect to the first set of episodes inresponse to the user interacting with the first storyline identifier.

In some embodiments, display 100 may include any number of storylineidentifiers, and the episode identifiers may be modified in any numberof ways to be indicative of any number of storylines.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may provideadditional features. For example, the media guidance application mayprovide a way to toggle between “full” storyline and “key” storyline. Ifthe “key” storyline option is chosen, some episodes (not considered key)may be not modified to be indicative of that storyline. In someembodiments, identifiers of episodes that are not considered “key” maybe modified to include a tag (e.g., text “summary only”). When the mediaguidance application plays such non-key episodes in response to astoryline section, only a summary version may be provided instead of thefull episode.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may provide anoption to rearrange the order of identifiers of episodes based on theuser input. For example, if the user requests a focused view of thesecond storyline, the media guidance application may remove allidentifiers other than those relevant to the second storyline. Theremaining identifiers may be rearranged (e.g., to be displayed in asingle line) to indicate the order specified by the second storyline.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may detectinterrelated series (e.g., Ser 1, Ser. 2, Ser. 3, and Ser. 4), based onmarkers includes into each episodes of the interrelated series thatidentify other interrelated series which may be relevant to the currentseries or to the current episode. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may present a notification to the user about theviability of interrelated series (e.g., of series that feature acontinuation to the storyline of the currently watched series). In someembodiments, display 100 may be displayed in response to the userinteraction with the notification. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may only present the notification in response todetermining that the user has been watching or have scheduled forrecording episodes of only one of the interrelated series and did notscheduled for recording any episodes of the other interrelated series.

In some embodiments, such a notification may allow the user to schedulefor recording all the episodes of the interrelated series. In someembodiments, if some of the episodes of the interrelated series notavailable for recording, the media guidance application may search foron-demand episodes of the sister series and download those on-demandinterrelated episodes for the user.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may detect that theinterrelated series includes a number of episodes that continue thestoryline that is currently being watched by the user. For example, ifthe user is watching episodes relating to a particular character, or toa particular event. In some embodiments, the media guidance applicationmay then automatically offer to the user an option to continue watchingthis storyline (which may be spread out among other episodes of theinterrelated series) instead of continuing to watch the current seriesin the original order. For example, the media guidance application maypresent display 100 where the second storyline is indicative ofcontinuing the storyline that is currently being watched by the user. Insome embodiments, the media guidance application may only schedule forrecording those episodes of the interrelated series that continue thecurrent storyline. In some embodiments, the media guidance applicationmay automatically download only those episodes that continue thestoryline if they are available on demand.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may present to auser a notification about the availability of an interrelated seriesfeaturing a continuation to the current storyline before the user startswatching a given series. For example, if the user selected a givenseries (e.g., the “Flash” TV series, or Ser. 1) for viewing, the mediaguidance application may determine that the user did not record or viewepisodes of the “Supergirl” TV series (e.g., Ser. 2) which includescontent that starts the storyline featured in the “Flash” TV series. Insome embodiments, the media guidance application may notify the userthat he should watch the “Supergirl” TV series first before the “Flash”TV series. In some embodiments, the media guidance application mayautomatically download a copy of the “Flash” TV series for the user towatch before the “Supergirl” TV series. After the user watches the“Flash” TV series, the media guidance application may present therelated episodes of the “Supergirl” TV series that continue thestoryline of the “Flash” TV series and episodes of any otherinterrelated series that continue the storyline from the “Supergirl” TVseries.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may identify a moviethat continues the storyline that was being featured in the interrelatedseries. In some embodiments, when the user watches the interrelatedseries on demand (e.g., by binge watching the series), the mediaguidance application may include in the playlist the movie in theappropriate position in the sequence that continues the story. In someembodiments, after the movie is provided to the user, the media guidanceapplication may continue presenting episodes of the interrelated seriesthat continue the storyline (e.g., in accordance with the orderidentified by one of the storylines). In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may suggest that the user watch the movie insteadof the next requested episode.

FIG. 1B shows another illustrative media guidance interface on a displayscreen that may provide a storyline selection interface, in accordancewith various embodiments of the disclosure. Display 120 shows a mediaguidance interface for storyline-based navigation. In some embodiments,display 120 may display media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. For example, display 120 may display an image. The imagemay be a part of media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. In some embodiments, media content provided by the mediaguidance application includes a plurality of interrelated series thatcontains a plurality of sequential episodes.

In some embodiments, display 120 may include a plurality of identifiersof episodes relating to a plurality of interrelated series. In someembodiments, display 120 may include identifiers for episodes of fourdifferent interrelated series. For example, display 120 may includeidentifiers for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4. In some embodiments, Series 1, 2,3, and 4 may be the same series demonstrated in FIG. 1A. In someembodiments, the display may lay out the identifiers for display as wasdescribed in relation to FIG. 1A.

In some embodiments, display 120 may include storyline section interface122. In some embodiments, storyline section interface 122 may includefirst storyline identifier 128 and second storyline identifier 130. Forexamples, first storyline identifier 128 may be a button (or anotherselection interface element) labeled “Storyline 1” (or with text thatdescribes the first storyline). In another example, second storylineidentifier 130 may be a button (or another selection interface element)labeled “Storyline 2” (or with text that describes the secondstoryline). In some embodiments, storyline section interface 122 mayinclude first graphical label 124 for first storyline identifier 108,and second graphical label 126 for second storyline identifier 130. Forexample, first graphical label 124 may include a first shape (e.g., acircle) indicative of the first storyline. In some embodiments, secondgraphical label 126 may include a second geometric shapes (e.g., ahexagon) that is indicative of the second storyline.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify the episodes identifiers based on which episodes are relevant tothe first and second storylines. For example, the media guidanceapplication may determine that Ser. 2, Ep. 2, Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep.2; Ser. 4, Ep. 2; and Ser. 4, Ep. 3 (a second set of episodes) arerelevant to the second storyline. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may then modify each identifier of episodesbelonging to the second set of episodes to be indicative of the secondstoryline. For example, the media guidance application may modify eachidentifier of episodes belonging to the second set of episodes toinclude a particular geometric shape (e.g., a hexagon).

In some embodiments, similarly, a first set of set of episodes may be,identified that are relevant to the first storyline. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may then modify eachidentifier of episodes belonging to the first set of episodes to beindicative of the first storyline. For example, the media guidanceapplication may modify each identifier of episodes belonging to thesecond set of episodes to include a second geometrical shape (e.g., acircle).

In some embodiments, the user may select a storyline by interacting withfirst storyline identifier 128 and second storyline identifier 130(e.g., by pressing the corresponding buttons). In some embodiments, ifthe user interacts with second storyline identifier 130, the mediaguidance application may provide for display the second set of episodesin the order specified by the second storyline. Similar action may beperformed with respect to the first set episodes in response to the userinteracting with the first storyline identifier.

FIG. 1C shows another illustrative media guidance interface on a displayscreen that may provide storyline selection interface, in accordancewith various embodiments of the disclosure. Display 140 shows a mediaguidance interface for storyline-based navigation. In some embodiments,display 140 may display media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. For example, display 140 may display an image. The imagemay be a part of media content provided by the media guidanceapplication. In some embodiments, media content provided by the mediaguidance application includes a plurality of interrelated series thatcontains a plurality of sequential episodes.

In some embodiments, display 140 may include a plurality of identifiersof episodes relating to a plurality of interrelated series. In someembodiments, display 140 may include identifiers for episodes of fourdifferent interrelated series. For example, display 140 may includeidentifiers for Series 1, 2, 3, and 4. In some embodiments, Series 1, 2,3, and 4 may be the same series demonstrated in FIG. 1A. In someembodiments, display may lay out the identifiers for display as wasdescribed in relation to FIG. 1A.

In some embodiments, display 140 may include storyline selectioninterface 142. In some embodiments, storyline section interface 142 mayinclude first storyline identifier 148 and second storyline identifier150. For examples, first storyline identifier 148 may be a button (oranother selection interface element) labeled “Storyline 1” (or with textthat describes the first storyline). In another example, secondstoryline identifier 150 may be a button (or another selection interfaceelement) labeled “Storyline 2” (or with text that describes the secondstoryline).

In some embodiments, the media guidance application may graphicallymodify the episodes identifiers based on which episodes are relevant tothe first and second storylines. For example, the media guidanceapplication may determine that Ser. 2, Ep. 2, Ser. 1, Ep. 1, Ser. 1, Ep.2, Ser. 4, Ep. 2, and Ser. 4, Ep. 3 (a second set of episodes) arerelevant to the second storyline. In some embodiments, the mediaguidance application may then modify each identifier of episodesbelonging to the second set of episodes to be indicative of the secondstoryline. For example, the media guidance application may generate fordisplay a second storyline arrow 144 that only intersects identifiers ofepisodes related to the second storyline.

In some embodiments, similarly, a first set of set of episodes may be,identified that are relevant to the first storyline. In someembodiments, the media guidance application may then modify eachidentifier of episodes belonging to the first set of episodes to beindicative of the first storyline. For example, the media guidanceapplication may generate for display a first storyline arrow (not shown)that only intersects identifiers of episodes related to the firststoryline.

In some embodiments, the way second storyline arrow 144 intersect withepisodes of the second set of episodes may be indicative of whichportion of the episode is relevant to the second storyline. For example,the second storyline may identify that entire Ser. 2, Ep. 2 is relevantto the second storyline, while only last 25% of Ser 1, Ep 1 is relevantto the second storyline. In this example, second storyline arrow 144 mayintersect the identifier for Ser. 2, Ep. 2 in its entirety, and onlyintersect the rightmost 25% of the identifier for Ser. 1, Ep. 2.

In some embodiments, the user may select a storyline by interacting withfirst storyline identifier 148 and second storyline identifier 150(e.g., by pressing the corresponding button). In some embodiments, ifthe user interacts with second storyline identifier 150, the mediaguidance application may provide for display the second set of episodesin the order specified by the second storyline. In some embodiment, onlyportions of the episodes that are relevant to the second storyline areprovided. For example, the media guidance application may play Ser. 2,Ep. 2 its entirety, while only 25% of Ser 1., Ep 1 is played. Similaraction may be performed with respect to the first set episodes inrespond to the user interacting with first storyline identifier 148.

FIGS. 2-3 show illustrative display screens that may be used to providemedia guidance data. The display screens shown in FIGS. 2-3 may beimplemented on any suitable user equipment device or platform. While thedisplays of FIGS. 2-3 are illustrated as full screen displays, they mayalso be fully or partially overlaid over content being displayed. A usermay indicate a desire to access content information by selecting aselectable option provided in a display screen (e.g., a menu option, alistings option, an icon, a hyperlink, etc.) or pressing a dedicatedbutton (e.g., a GUIDE button) on a remote control or other user inputinterface or device. In response to the user's indication, the mediaguidance application may provide a display screen with media guidancedata organized in one of several ways, such as by time and channel in agrid, by time, by channel, by source, by content type, by category(e.g., movies, sports, news, children, or other categories ofprogramming), or other predefined, user-defined, or other organizationcriteria.

FIG. 2 shows illustrative grid of a program listings display 200arranged by time and channel that also enables access to different typesof content in a single display. Display 200 may include grid 202 with:(1) a column of channel/content type identifiers 204, where eachchannel/content type identifier (which is a cell in the column)identifies a different channel or content type available; and (2) a rowof time identifiers 206, where each time identifier (which is a cell inthe row) identifies a time block of programming. Grid 202 also includescells of program listings, such as program listing 208, where eachlisting provides the title of the program provided on the listing'sassociated channel and time. With a user input device, a user can selectprogram listings by moving highlight region 210. Information relating tothe program listing selected by highlight region 210 may be provided inprogram information region 212. Region 212 may include, for example, theprogram title, the program description, the time the program is provided(if applicable), the channel the program is on (if applicable), theprogram's rating, and other desired information.

In addition to providing access to linear programming (e.g., contentthat is scheduled to be transmitted to a plurality of user equipmentdevices at a predetermined time and is provided according to aschedule), the media guidance application also provides access tonon-linear programming (e.g., content accessible to a user equipmentdevice at any time and is not provided according to a schedule).Non-linear programming may include content from different contentsources including on-demand content (e.g., VOD), Internet content (e.g.,streaming media, downloadable media, etc.), locally stored content(e.g., content stored on any user equipment device described above orother storage device), or other time-independent content. On-demandcontent may include movies or any other content provided by a particularcontent provider (e.g., HBO On Demand providing “The Sopranos” and “CurbYour Enthusiasm”). HBO ON DEMAND is a service mark owned by Time WarnerCompany L.P. et al. and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM aretrademarks owned by the Home Box Office, Inc. Internet content mayinclude web events, such as a chat session or Webcast, or contentavailable on-demand as streaming content or downloadable content throughan Internet web site or other Internet access (e.g. FTP).

Grid 202 may provide media guidance data for non-linear programmingincluding on-demand listing 214, recorded content listing 216, andInternet content listing 218. A display combining media guidance datafor content from different types of content sources is sometimesreferred to as a “mixed-media” display. Various permutations of thetypes of media guidance data that may be displayed that are differentthan display 200 may be based on user selection or guidance applicationdefinition (e.g., a display of only recorded and broadcast listings,only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings214, 216, and 218 are shown as spanning the entire time block displayedin grid 202 to indicate that selection of these listings may provideaccess to a display dedicated to on-demand listings, recorded listings,or Internet listings, respectively. In some embodiments, listings forthese content types may be included directly in grid 202. Additionalmedia guidance data may be displayed in response to the user selectingone of the navigational icons 220. (Pressing an arrow key on a userinput device may affect the display in a similar manner as selectingnavigational icons 220.)

Display 200 may also include video region 222, and options region 226.Video region 222 may allow the user to view and/or preview programs thatare currently available, will be available, or were available to theuser. The content of video region 222 may correspond to, or beindependent from, one of the listings displayed in grid 202. Griddisplays including a video region are sometimes referred to aspicture-in-guide (PIG) displays. PIG displays and their functionalitiesare described in greater detail in Satterfield et al. U.S. Pat. No.6,564,378, issued May 13, 2003 and Yuen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,794,issued May 29, 2001, which are hereby incorporated by reference hereinin their entireties. PIG displays may be included in other mediaguidance application display screens of the embodiments describedherein.

Options region 226 may allow the user to access different types ofcontent, media guidance application displays, and/or media guidanceapplication features. Options region 226 may be part of display 200 (andother display screens described herein), or may be invoked by a user byselecting an on-screen option or pressing a dedicated or assignablebutton on a user input device. The selectable options within optionsregion 226 may concern features related to program listings in grid 202or may include options available from a main menu display. Featuresrelated to program listings may include searching for other air times orways of receiving a program, recording a program, enabling seriesrecording of a program, setting program and/or channel as a favorite,purchasing a program, or other features. Options available from a mainmenu display may include search options, VOD options, parental controloptions, Internet options, cloud-based options, device synchronizationoptions, second screen device options, options to access various typesof media guidance data displays, options to subscribe to a premiumservice, options to edit a user's profile, options to access a browseoverlay, or other options.

The media guidance application may be personalized based on a user'spreferences. A personalized media guidance application allows a user tocustomize displays and features to create a personalized “experience”with the media guidance application. This personalized experience may becreated by allowing a user to input these customizations and/or by themedia guidance application monitoring user activity to determine varioususer preferences. Users may access their personalized guidanceapplication by logging in or otherwise identifying themselves to theguidance application. Customization of the media guidance applicationmay be made in accordance with a user profile. The customizations mayinclude varying presentation schemes (e.g., color scheme of displays,font size of text, etc.), aspects of content listings displayed (e.g.,only HDTV or only 3D programming, user-specified broadcast channelsbased on favorite channel selections, re-ordering the display ofchannels, recommended content, etc.), desired recording features (e.g.,recording or series recordings for particular users, recording quality,etc.), parental control settings, customized presentation of Internetcontent (e.g., presentation of social media content, e-mail,electronically delivered articles, etc.) and other desiredcustomizations.

The media guidance application may allow a user to provide user profileinformation or may automatically compile user profile information. Themedia guidance application may, for example, monitor the content theuser accesses and/or other interactions the user may have with theguidance application. Additionally, the media guidance application mayobtain all or part of other user profiles that are related to aparticular user (e.g., from other web sites on the Internet the useraccesses, such as www.Tivo.com, from other media guidance applicationsthe user accesses, from other interactive applications the useraccesses, from another user equipment device of the user, etc.), and/orobtain information about the user from other sources that the mediaguidance application may access. As a result, a user can be providedwith a unified guidance application experience across the user'sdifferent user equipment devices. This type of user experience isdescribed in greater detail below in connection with FIG. 5. Additionalpersonalized media guidance application features are described ingreater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2005/0251827, filed Jul. 11, 2005, Boyer et al., U.S. Pat. No.7,165,098, issued Jan. 16, 2007, and Ellis et al., U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2002/0174430, filed Feb. 21, 2002, which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is shown inFIG. 3. Video mosaic display 300 includes selectable options 302 forcontent information organized based on content type, genre, and/or otherorganization criteria. In display 300, television listings option 304 isselected, thus providing listings 306, 308, 310, and 312 as broadcastprogram listings. In display 300 the listings may provide graphicalimages including cover art, still images from the content, video clippreviews, live video from the content, or other types of content thatindicate to a user the content being described by the media guidancedata in the listing. Each of the graphical listings may also beaccompanied by text to provide further information about the contentassociated with the listing. For example, listing 308 may include morethan one portion, including media portion 314 and text portion 316.Media portion 314 and/or text portion 316 may be selectable to viewcontent in full-screen or to view information related to the contentdisplayed in media portion 314 (e.g., to view listings for the channelthat the video is displayed on).

The listings in display 300 are of different sizes (i.e., listing 306 islarger than listings 308, 310, and 312), but if desired, all thelistings may be the same size. Listings may be of different sizes orgraphically accentuated to indicate degrees of interest to the user orto emphasize certain content, as desired by the content provider orbased on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphicallyaccentuating content listings are discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0153885, filed Nov. 12, 2009,which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Users may access content and the media guidance application (and itsdisplay screens described above and below) from one or more of theiruser equipment devices. FIG. 4 shows a generalized embodiment ofillustrative user equipment device 400. More specific implementations ofuser equipment devices are discussed below in connection with FIG. 5.User equipment device 400 may receive content and data via input/output(hereinafter “I/O”) path 402. I/O path 402 may provide content (e.g.,broadcast programming, on-demand programming, Internet content, contentavailable over a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN),and/or other content) and data to control circuitry 404, which includesprocessing circuitry 406 and storage 408. Control circuitry 404 may beused to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable datausing I/O path 402. I/O path 402 may connect control circuitry 404 (andspecifically processing circuitry 406) to one or more communicationspaths (described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more ofthese communications paths, but are shown as a single path in FIG. 4 toavoid overcomplicating the drawing.

Control circuitry 404 may be based on any suitable processing circuitrysuch as processing circuitry 406. As referred to herein, processingcircuitry should be understood to mean circuitry based on one or moremicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., and may includea multi-core processor (e.g., dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or anysuitable number of cores) or supercomputer. In some embodiments,processing circuitry may be distributed across multiple separateprocessors or processing units, for example, multiple of the same typeof processing units (e.g., two Intel Core i7 processors) or multipledifferent processors (e.g., an Intel Core i5 processor and an Intel Corei7 processor). In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 executesinstructions for a media guidance application stored in memory (i.e.,storage 408). Specifically, control circuitry 404 may be instructed bythe media guidance application to perform the functions discussed aboveand below. For example, the media guidance application may provideinstructions to control circuitry 404 to generate the media guidancedisplays. In some implementations, any action performed by controlcircuitry 404 may be based on instructions received from the mediaguidance application.

In client-server based embodiments, control circuitry 404 may includecommunications circuitry suitable for communicating with a guidanceapplication server or other networks or servers. The instructions forcarrying out the above mentioned functionality may be stored on theguidance application server. Communications circuitry may include acable modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, adigital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, Ethernet card,or a wireless modem for communications with other equipment, or anyother suitable communications circuitry. Such communications may involvethe Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths(which is described in more detail in connection with FIG. 5). Inaddition, communications circuitry may include circuitry that enablespeer-to-peer communication of user equipment devices, or communicationof user equipment devices in locations remote from each other (describedin more detail below).

Memory may be an electronic storage device provided as storage 408 thatis part of control circuitry 404. As referred to herein, the phrase“electronic storage device” or “storage device” should be understood tomean any device for storing electronic data, computer software, orfirmware, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, hard drives,optical drives, digital video disc (DVD) recorders, compact disc (CD)recorders, BLU-RAY disc (BD) recorders, BLU-RAY 3D disc recorders,digital video recorders (DVR, sometimes called a personal videorecorder, or PVR), solid state devices, quantum storage devices, gamingconsoles, gaming media, or any other suitable fixed or removable storagedevices, and/or any combination of the same. Storage 408 may be used tostore various types of content described herein as well as mediaguidance data described above. Nonvolatile memory may also be used(e.g., to launch a boot-up routine and other instructions). Cloud-basedstorage, described in relation to FIG. 5, may be used to supplementstorage 408 or instead of storage 408.

Control circuitry 404 may include video generating circuitry and tuningcircuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2decoders or other digital decoding circuitry, high-definition tuners, orany other suitable tuning or video circuits or combinations of suchcircuits. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog,or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided.Control circuitry 404 may also include scaler circuitry for upconvertingand downconverting content into the preferred output format of the userequipment 400. Circuitry 404 may also include digital-to-analogconverter circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry forconverting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and encodingcircuitry may be used by the user equipment device to receive and todisplay, to play, or to record content. The tuning and encodingcircuitry may also be used to receive guidance data. The circuitrydescribed herein, including for example, the tuning, video generating,encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaler, and analog/digitalcircuitry, may be implemented using software running on one or moregeneral purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may beprovided to handle simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., watch and recordfunctions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multiple-tuner recording,etc.). If storage 408 is provided as a separate device from userequipment 400, the tuning and encoding circuitry (including multipletuners) may be associated with storage 408.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry 404 using user inputinterface 410. User input interface 410 may be any suitable userinterface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard,touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognitioninterface, or other user input interfaces. Display 412 may be providedas a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of userequipment device 400. For example, display 412 may be a touchscreen ortouch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface 410may be integrated with or combined with display 412. Display 412 may beone or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD)for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low temperature polysilicon display, electronic ink display, electrophoretic display, activematrix display, electro-wetting display, electrofluidic display, cathoderay tube display, light-emitting diode display, electroluminescentdisplay, plasma display panel, high-performance addressing display,thin-film transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display,surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser television,carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulatordisplay, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images.In some embodiments, display 412 may be HDTV-capable. In someembodiments, display 412 may be a 3D display, and the interactive mediaguidance application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. Avideo card or graphics card may generate the output to the display 412.The video card may offer various functions such as accelerated renderingof 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or theability to connect multiple monitors. The video card may be anyprocessing circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry404. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry 404.Speakers 414 may be provided as integrated with other elements of userequipment device 400 or may be stand-alone units. The audio component ofvideos and other content displayed on display 412 may be played throughspeakers 414. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to areceiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers414.

The guidance application may be implemented using any suitablearchitecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone applicationwholly-implemented on user equipment device 400. In such an approach,instructions of the application are stored locally (e.g., in storage408), and data for use by the application is downloaded on a periodicbasis (e.g., from an out-of-band feed, from an Internet resource, orusing another suitable approach). Control circuitry 404 may retrieveinstructions of the application from storage 408 and process theinstructions to generate any of the displays discussed herein. Based onthe processed instructions, control circuitry 404 may determine whataction to perform when input is received from input interface 410. Forexample, movement of a cursor on a display up/down may be indicated bythe processed instructions when input interface 410 indicates that anup/down button was selected.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application is a client-serverbased application. Data for use by a thick or thin client implemented onuser equipment device 400 is retrieved on-demand by issuing requests toa server remote to the user equipment device 400. In one example of aclient-server based guidance application, control circuitry 404 runs aweb browser that interprets web pages provided by a remote server. Forexample, the remote server may store the instructions for theapplication in a storage device. The remote server may process thestored instructions using circuitry (e.g., control circuitry 404) andgenerate the displays discussed above and below. The client device mayreceive the displays generated by the remote server and may display thecontent of the displays locally on equipment device 400. This way, theprocessing of the instructions is performed remotely by the server whilethe resulting displays are provided locally on equipment device 400.Equipment device 400 may receive inputs from the user via inputinterface 410 and transmit those inputs to the remote server forprocessing and generating the corresponding displays. For example,equipment device 400 may transmit a communication to the remote serverindicating that an up/down button was selected via input interface 410.The remote server may process instructions in accordance with that inputand generate a display of the application corresponding to the input(e.g., a display that moves a cursor up/down). The generated display isthen transmitted to equipment device 400 for presentation to the user.

In some embodiments, the media guidance application is downloaded andinterpreted or otherwise run by an interpreter or virtual machine (runby control circuitry 404). In some embodiments, the guidance applicationmay be encoded in the ETV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF), received bycontrol circuitry 404 as part of a suitable feed, and interpreted by auser agent running on control circuitry 404. For example, the guidanceapplication may be an EBIF application. In some embodiments, theguidance application may be defined by a series of JAVA-based files thatare received and run by a local virtual machine or other suitablemiddleware executed by control circuitry 404. In some of suchembodiments (e.g., those employing MPEG-2 or other digital mediaencoding schemes), the guidance application may be, for example, encodedand transmitted in an MPEG-2 object carousel with the MPEG audio andvideo packets of a program.

User equipment device 400 of FIG. 4 can be implemented in system 500 ofFIG. 5 as user television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504,wireless user communications device 506, or any other type of userequipment suitable for accessing content, such as a non-portable gamingmachine. For simplicity, these devices may be referred to hereincollectively as user equipment or user equipment devices, and may besubstantially similar to user equipment devices described above. Userequipment devices, on which a media guidance application may beimplemented, may function as a standalone device or may be part of anetwork of devices. Various network configurations of devices may beimplemented and are discussed in more detail below.

A user equipment device utilizing at least some of the system featuresdescribed above in connection with FIG. 4 may not be classified solelyas user television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504, or awireless user communications device 506. For example, user televisionequipment 502 may, like some user computer equipment 504, beInternet-enabled allowing for access to Internet content, while usercomputer equipment 504 may, like some television equipment 502, includea tuner allowing for access to television programming. The mediaguidance application may have the same layout on various different typesof user equipment or may be tailored to the display capabilities of theuser equipment. For example, on user computer equipment 504, theguidance application may be provided as a web site accessed by a webbrowser. In another example, the guidance application may be scaled downfor wireless user communications devices 506.

In system 500, there is typically more than one of each type of userequipment device but only one of each is shown in FIG. 5 to avoidovercomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may utilize morethan one type of user equipment device and also more than one of eachtype of user equipment device.

In some embodiments, a user equipment device (e.g., user televisionequipment 502, user computer equipment 504, wireless user communicationsdevice 506) may be referred to as a “second screen device.” For example,a second screen device may supplement content presented on a first userequipment device. The content presented on the second screen device maybe any suitable content that supplements the content presented on thefirst device. In some embodiments, the second screen device provides aninterface for adjusting settings and display preferences of the firstdevice. In some embodiments, the second screen device is configured forinteracting with other second screen devices or for interacting with asocial network. The second screen device can be located in the same roomas the first device, a different room from the first device but in thesame house or building, or in a different building from the firstdevice.

The user may also set various settings to maintain consistent mediaguidance application settings across in-home devices and remote devices.Settings include those described herein, as well as channel and programfavorites, programming preferences that the guidance applicationutilizes to make programming recommendations, display preferences, andother desirable guidance settings. For example, if a user sets a channelas a favorite on, for example, the web site www.Tivo.com on theirpersonal computer at their office, the same channel would appear as afavorite on the user's in-home devices (e.g., user television equipmentand user computer equipment) as well as the user's mobile devices, ifdesired. Therefore, changes made on one user equipment device can changethe guidance experience on another user equipment device, regardless ofwhether they are the same or a different type of user equipment device.In addition, the changes made may be based on settings input by a user,as well as user activity monitored by the guidance application.

The user equipment devices may be coupled to communications network 514.Namely, user television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504, andwireless user communications device 506 are coupled to communicationsnetwork 514 via communications paths 508, 510, and 512, respectively.Communications network 514 may be one or more networks including theInternet, a mobile phone network, mobile voice or data network (e.g., a4G or LTE network), cable network, public switched telephone network, orother types of communications network or combinations of communicationsnetworks. Paths 508, 510, and 512 may separately or together include oneor more communications paths, such as, a satellite path, a fiber-opticpath, a cable path, a path that supports Internet communications (e.g.,IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other wirelesssignals), or any other suitable wired or wireless communications path orcombination of such paths. Path 512 is drawn with dotted lines toindicate that in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 it is awireless path and paths 508 and 510 are drawn as solid lines to indicatethey are wired paths (although these paths may be wireless paths, ifdesired). Communications with the user equipment devices may be providedby one or more of these communications paths, but are shown as a singlepath in FIG. 5 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

Although communications paths are not drawn between user equipmentdevices, these devices may communicate directly with each other viacommunication paths, such as those described above in connection withpaths 508, 510, and 512, as well as other short-range point-to-pointcommunication paths, such as USB cables, IEEE 1394 cables, wirelesspaths (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, IEEE 802-11x, etc.), or othershort-range communication via wired or wireless paths. BLUETOOTH is acertification mark owned by Bluetooth SIG, INC. The user equipmentdevices may also communicate with each other directly through anindirect path via communications network 514.

System 500 includes content source 516 and media guidance data source518 coupled to communications network 514 via communication paths 520and 522, respectively. Paths 520 and 522 may include any of thecommunication paths described above in connection with paths 508, 510,and 512. Communications with the content source 516 and media guidancedata source 518 may be exchanged over one or more communications paths,but are shown as a single path in FIG. 5 to avoid overcomplicating thedrawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of contentsource 516 and media guidance data source 518, but only one of each isshown in FIG. 5 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The differenttypes of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired, contentsource 516 and media guidance data source 518 may be integrated as onesource device. Although communications between sources 516 and 518 withuser equipment devices 502, 504, and 506 are shown as throughcommunications network 514, in some embodiments, sources 516 and 518 maycommunicate directly with user equipment devices 502, 504, and 506 viacommunication paths (not shown) such as those described above inconnection with paths 508, 510, and 512.

System 500 may also include an advertisement source 524 coupled tocommunications network 514 via a communications path 526. Path 526 mayinclude any of the communication paths described above in connectionwith paths 508, 510, and 512. Advertisement source 524 may includeadvertisement logic to determine which advertisements to transmit tospecific users and under which circumstances. For example, a cableoperator may have the right to insert advertisements during specifictime slots on specific channels. Thus, advertisement source 524 maytransmit advertisements to users during those time slots. As anotherexample, advertisement source may target advertisements based on thedemographics of users known to view a particular show (e.g., teenagersviewing a reality show). As yet another example, advertisement sourcemay provide different advertisements depending on the location of theuser equipment viewing a media asset (e.g., east coast or west coast).

In some embodiments, advertisement source 524 may be configured tomaintain user information including advertisement-suitability scoresassociated with user in order to provide targeted advertising.Additionally or alternatively, a server associated with advertisementsource 524 may be configured to store raw information that may be usedto derive advertisement-suitability scores. In some embodiments,advertisement source 524 may transmit a request to another device forthe raw information and calculate the advertisement-suitability scores.Advertisement source 524 may update advertisement-suitability scores forspecific users (e.g., first subset, second subset, or third subset ofusers) and transmit an advertisement of the target product toappropriate users.

Content source 516 may include one or more types of content distributionequipment including a television distribution facility, cable systemheadend, satellite distribution facility, programming sources (e.g.,television broadcasters, such as NBC, ABC, HBO, etc.), intermediatedistribution facilities and/or servers, Internet providers, on-demandmedia servers, and other content providers. NBC is a trademark owned bythe National Broadcasting Company, Inc., ABC is a trademark owned by theAmerican Broadcasting Company, Inc., and HBO is a trademark owned by theHome Box Office, Inc. Content source 516 may be the originator ofcontent (e.g., a television broadcaster, a Webcast provider, etc.) ormay not be the originator of content (e.g., an on-demand contentprovider, an Internet provider of content of broadcast programs fordownloading, etc.). Content source 516 may include cable sources,satellite providers, on-demand providers, Internet providers,over-the-top content providers, or other providers of content. Contentsource 516 may also include a remote media server used to storedifferent types of content (including video content selected by a user),in a location remote from any of the user equipment devices. Systems andmethods for remote storage of content, and providing remotely storedcontent to user equipment are discussed in greater detail in connectionwith Ellis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,761,892, issued Jul. 20, 2010, whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Media guidance data source 518 may provide media guidance data, such asthe media guidance data described above. Media guidance data may beprovided to the user equipment devices using any suitable approach. Insome embodiments, the guidance application may be a stand-aloneinteractive television program guide that receives program guide datavia a data feed (e.g., a continuous feed or trickle feed). Programschedule data and other guidance data may be provided to the userequipment on a television channel sideband, using an in-band digitalsignal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitabledata transmission technique. Program schedule data and other mediaguidance data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog ordigital television channels.

In some embodiments, guidance data from media guidance data source 518may be provided to users' equipment using a client-server approach. Forexample, a user equipment device may pull media guidance data from aserver, or a server may push media guidance data to a user equipmentdevice. In some embodiments, a guidance application client residing onthe user's equipment may initiate sessions with source 518 to obtainguidance data when needed, e.g., when the guidance data is out of dateor when the user equipment device receives a request from the user toreceive data. Media guidance may be provided to the user equipment withany suitable frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, a user-specifiedperiod of time, a system-specified period of time, in response to arequest from user equipment, etc.). Media guidance data source 518 mayprovide user equipment devices 502, 504, and 506 the media guidanceapplication itself or software updates for the media guidanceapplication.

In some embodiments, the media guidance data may include viewer data.For example, the viewer data may include current and/or historical useractivity information (e.g., what content the user typically watches,what times of day the user watches content, whether the user interactswith a social network, at what times the user interacts with a socialnetwork to post information, what types of content the user typicallywatches (e.g., pay TV or free TV), mood, brain activity information,etc.). The media guidance data may also include subscription data. Forexample, the subscription data may identify to which sources or servicesa given user subscribes and/or to which sources or services the givenuser has previously subscribed but later terminated access (e.g.,whether the user subscribes to premium channels, whether the user hasadded a premium level of services, whether the user has increasedInternet speed). In some embodiments, the viewer data and/or thesubscription data may identify patterns of a given user for a period ofmore than one year. The media guidance data may include a model (e.g., asurvivor model) used for generating a score that indicates a likelihooda given user will terminate access to a service/source. For example, themedia guidance application may process the viewer data with thesubscription data using the model to generate a value or score thatindicates a likelihood of whether the given user will terminate accessto a particular service or source. In particular, a higher score mayindicate a higher level of confidence that the user will terminateaccess to a particular service or source. Based on the score, the mediaguidance application may generate promotions that entice the user tokeep the particular service or source indicated by the score as one towhich the user will likely terminate access.

Media guidance applications may be, for example, stand-aloneapplications implemented on user equipment devices. For example, themedia guidance application may be implemented as software or a set ofexecutable instructions which may be stored in storage 408, and executedby control circuitry 404 of a user equipment device 400. In someembodiments, media guidance applications may be client-serverapplications where only a client application resides on the userequipment device, and server application resides on a remote server. Forexample, media guidance applications may be implemented partially as aclient application on control circuitry 404 of user equipment device 400and partially on a remote server as a server application (e.g., mediaguidance data source 518) running on control circuitry of the remoteserver. When executed by control circuitry of the remote server (such asmedia guidance data source 518), the media guidance application mayinstruct the control circuitry to generate the guidance applicationdisplays and transmit the generated displays to the user equipmentdevices. The server application may instruct the control circuitry ofthe media guidance data source 518 to transmit data for storage on theuser equipment. The client application may instruct control circuitry ofthe receiving user equipment to generate the guidance applicationdisplays.

Content and/or media guidance data delivered to user equipment devices502, 504, and 506 may be over-the-top (OTT) content. OTT contentdelivery allows Internet-enabled user devices, including any userequipment device described above, to receive content that is transferredover the Internet, including any content described above, in addition tocontent received over cable or satellite connections. OTT content isdelivered via an Internet connection provided by an Internet serviceprovider (ISP), but a third party distributes the content. The ISP maynot be responsible for the viewing abilities, copyrights, orredistribution of the content, and may only transfer IP packets providedby the OTT content provider. Examples of OTT content providers includeYOUTUBE, NETFLIX, and HULU, which provide audio and video via IPpackets. Youtube is a trademark owned by Google Inc., Netflix is atrademark owned by Netflix Inc., and Hulu is a trademark owned by Hulu,LLC. OTT content providers may additionally or alternatively providemedia guidance data described above. In addition to content and/or mediaguidance data, providers of OTT content can distribute media guidanceapplications (e.g., web-based applications or cloud-based applications),or the content can be displayed by media guidance applications stored onthe user equipment device.

Media guidance system 500 is intended to illustrate a number ofapproaches, or network configurations, by which user equipment devicesand sources of content and guidance data may communicate with each otherfor the purpose of accessing content and providing media guidance. Theembodiments described herein may be applied in any one or a subset ofthese approaches, or in a system employing other approaches fordelivering content and providing media guidance. The following fourapproaches provide specific illustrations of the generalized example ofFIG. 5.

In one approach, user equipment devices may communicate with each otherwithin a home network. User equipment devices can communicate with eachother directly via short-range point-to-point communication schemesdescribed above, via indirect paths through a hub or other similardevice provided on a home network, or via communications network 514.Each of the multiple individuals in a single home may operate differentuser equipment devices on the home network. As a result, it may bedesirable for various media guidance information or settings to becommunicated between the different user equipment devices. For example,it may be desirable for users to maintain consistent media guidanceapplication settings on different user equipment devices within a homenetwork, as described in greater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. PatentPublication No. 2005/0251827, filed Jul. 11, 2005. Different types ofuser equipment devices in a home network may also communicate with eachother to transmit content. For example, a user may transmit content fromuser computer equipment to a portable video player or portable musicplayer.

In a second approach, users may have multiple types of user equipment bywhich they access content and obtain media guidance. For example, someusers may have home networks that are accessed by in-home and mobiledevices. Users may control in-home devices via a media guidanceapplication implemented on a remote device. For example, users mayaccess an online media guidance application on a website via a personalcomputer at their office, or a mobile device such as a PDA orweb-enabled mobile telephone. The user may set various settings (e.g.,recordings, reminders, or other settings) on the online guidanceapplication to control the user's in-home equipment. The online guidemay control the user's equipment directly, or by communicating with amedia guidance application on the user's in-home equipment. Varioussystems and methods for user equipment devices communicating, where theuser equipment devices are in locations remote from each other, isdiscussed in, for example, Ellis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,801, issuedOct. 25, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside and outsidea home can use their media guidance application to communicate directlywith content source 516 to access content. Specifically, within a home,users of user television equipment 502 and user computer equipment 504may access the media guidance application to navigate among and locatedesirable content. Users may also access the media guidance applicationoutside of the home using wireless user communications devices 506 tonavigate among and locate desirable content.

In a fourth approach, user equipment devices may operate in a cloudcomputing environment to access cloud services. In a cloud computingenvironment, various types of computing services for content sharing,storage or distribution (e.g., video-sharing sites or social networkingsites) are provided by a collection of network-accessible computing andstorage resources, referred to as “the cloud.” For example, the cloudcan include a collection of server computing devices, which may belocated centrally or at distributed locations, that provide cloud-basedservices to various types of users and devices connected via a networksuch as the Internet via communications network 514. These cloudresources may include one or more content sources 516 and one or moremedia guidance data sources 518. In addition or in the alternative, theremote computing sites may include other user equipment devices, such asuser television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504, and wirelessuser communications device 506. For example, the other user equipmentdevices may provide access to a stored copy of a video or a streamedvideo. In such embodiments, user equipment devices may operate in apeer-to-peer manner without communicating with a central server.

The cloud provides access to services, such as content storage, contentsharing, or social networking services, among other examples, as well asaccess to any content described above, for user equipment devices.Services can be provided in the cloud through cloud computing serviceproviders, or through other providers of online services. For example,the cloud-based services can include a content storage service, acontent sharing site, a social networking site, or other services viawhich user-sourced content is distributed for viewing by others onconnected devices. These cloud-based services may allow a user equipmentdevice to store content to the cloud and to receive content from thecloud rather than storing content locally and accessing locally-storedcontent.

A user may use various content capture devices, such as camcorders,digital cameras with video mode, audio recorders, mobile phones, andhandheld computing devices, to record content. The user can uploadcontent to a content storage service on the cloud either directly, forexample, from user computer equipment 504 or wireless usercommunications device 506 having content capture feature. Alternatively,the user can first transfer the content to a user equipment device, suchas user computer equipment 504. The user equipment device storing thecontent uploads the content to the cloud using a data transmissionservice on communications network 514. In some embodiments, the userequipment device itself is a cloud resource, and other user equipmentdevices can access the content directly from the user equipment deviceon which the user stored the content.

Cloud resources may be accessed by a user equipment device using, forexample, a web browser, a media guidance application, a desktopapplication, a mobile application, and/or any combination of accessapplications of the same. The user equipment device may be a cloudclient that relies on cloud computing for application delivery, or theuser equipment device may have some functionality without access tocloud resources. For example, some applications running on the userequipment device may be cloud applications, i.e., applications deliveredas a service over the Internet, while other applications may be storedand run on the user equipment device. In some embodiments, a user devicemay receive content from multiple cloud resources simultaneously. Forexample, a user device can stream audio from one cloud resource whiledownloading content from a second cloud resource. Or a user device candownload content from multiple cloud resources for more efficientdownloading. In some embodiments, user equipment devices can use cloudresources for processing operations such as the processing operationsperformed by processing circuitry described in relation to FIG. 4.

As referred herein, the term “in response to” refers to initiated as aresult of. For example, a first action being performed in response to asecond action may include interstitial steps between the first actionand the second action. As referred herein, the term “directly inresponse to” refers to caused by. For example, a first action beingperformed directly in response to a second action may not includeinterstitial steps between the first action and the second action.

Detailed descriptions of FIGS. 6-14 are provided below. It should benoted that processes 600-1400, or any step thereof, could be performedon, or provided by, any of the devices shown in, or described withrespect to, FIGS. 4-5. For example, either process 600 or process 700may be executed by control circuitry 404 (FIG. 4) as instructed by mediaguidance application(s) implemented on user equipment 502, 504, and/or506 (FIG. 5). In addition, one or more steps of processes 600 and 700may be incorporated into, or combined with, one or more steps of anyother process or embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative flow diagram of a process 600 forgenerating a storyline interface in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure. Process 600 may be executed by control circuitry 404 (e.g.,in a manner instructed to control circuitry 404 by the media guidanceapplication). Control circuitry 404 may be a part of user equipment(e.g., user television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504,and/or wireless communications device 506), or of a remote serverseparated from the user equipment by way of communications network 514.

Process 600 begins at 602, where control circuitry 404 identifies atleast two storylines, each storyline specifying an order of providing aplurality of episodes from a plurality of interrelated series. In someembodiments, the plurality of interrelated series can include a firstseries, and at least one of a sequel series, prequel series, crossoverseries, or series that occur in the shared imaginary universe as thefirst series. In some embodiments, the interrelated series may beinterrelated in any other way. In some embodiments, the plurality ofinterrelated series includes the first series, second series, thirdseries, and fourth series described with respect to FIG. 1A. In someembodiments, the plurality of episodes may include Ser. 1, Eps. 1-5,Ser. 2; Eps. 1-2; Ser. 3, Eps. 1-3; and Ser. 4, Eps. 1-3 as depicted byFIG. 1A.

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may identify two storylines,(e.g., storyline 1 and storyline 2 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments,each storyline may define a sequence of some episodes (or portions ofepisodes) from the plurality of episodes. In some embodiments, controlcircuitry 404 may receive the storylines from a remote serve (e.g.,media guidance data sources 518). In some embodiments, control circuitry404 may identify storylines by analyzing metadata of the episodes. Forexample, control circuitry 404 may identify a storyline relating to acertain character of the plurality of series, by determining that onlysome episodes include metadata identifying that character.

Process 600 continues at 604, where control circuitry 404 may generatefor display identifiers of the plurality of episodes. For example,control circuitry 404 may generate identifiers for display on usertelevision equipment 502 or user computer equipment 504. In someembodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate the identifiers of theplurality of episodes or display as depicted on display 100 of FIG. 1A.For example, control circuitry 404 may generate a geometric shape with alabel to identify each episode. In some embodiments, the geometricshapes may be arranged by control circuitry 404 on a display in asequential order. In some embodiments, the geometric shapes may beconnected by arrows to demonstrate the original order of each series ofthe plurality of series.

Process 600 continues at 606, where control circuitry 404 maygraphically modify identifiers of a first set of the plurality ofepisodes that are relevant to the first storyline to indicate relevanceto the first storyline. For example, control circuitry 404 may determinethat Ser. 1, Ep. 3; Ser. 1; Ep. 4, Ser. 1; Ep. 5, and Ser. 4; Ep. 1 (afirst set of episodes) are relevant to the first storyline. In someembodiments, control circuitry 404 may then graphically modifyidentifiers of the first set of episodes to indicate their relevance tothe first storyline. For example, these identifiers may be modified toinclude a first color (e.g., a color identified by label 104 of FIG. 1A)

Process 600 continues at 608, where control circuitry 404 maygraphically modify identifiers of a second set of the plurality ofepisodes that are relevant to the second storyline to indicate relevanceto the second storyline. For example, control circuitry 404 maydetermine that Ser. 2, Ep. 2; Ser. 1, Ep. 1, Ser. 1, Ep. 2; Ser. 4, Ep.2; and Ser. 4, Ep. 3 (a second set of episodes) are relevant to thesecond storyline. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may thengraphically modify identifiers of the second set of episodes to indicatetheir relevance to the second storyline. For example, these identifiersmay be modified to include a second color (e.g., a color identified bylabel 106 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the identifiers of secondset of episodes may be modified as depicted in FIG. 1A.

Process 600 continues at 610, where control circuitry 404 may generatefor display a first storyline identifier. For example, control circuitry404 may generate for display the first storyline identifier on usertelevision equipment 502, or user computer equipment 504, or display 100of FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate thefirst storyline identifier to include a button (or any other userinterface element) with a text label (e.g., “Storyline 1” or a textrelevant to the first storyline). In some embodiments, the firststoryline identifier may be used by the user to select the firststoryline for playback.

Process 600 continues at 612, where control circuitry 404 may generatefor display a second storyline identifier. For example, controlcircuitry 404 may generate the second storyline identifier for displayon user television equipment 502 or user computer equipment 504, or ondisplay 100 of FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 maygenerate the second storyline identifier to include a button (or anyother user interface element) with a text label (e.g., “Storyline 2” ora text relevant to the second storyline). In some embodiments, the firststoryline identifier may be used by the user to select the secondstoryline for playback.

Process 600 continues at 612, where control circuitry 404 may, inresponse to the user selecting the first or the second storylineidentifier, provide the interrelated series to a user device in theorder specified by the selected storyline. For example, if the userselected the first storyline, control circuitry 404 may generate forplayback the first set of episodes (e.g., Ser. 1, Ep. 3; Ser. 1, Ep. 41Ser. 1, Ep. 5; and Ser. 4, Ep. 1) in the order defined by the firststoryline. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate fordisplay only portions of episodes defined by the first storyline. Insome embodiments, control circuitry 404 may schedule a recording of theepisodes (or portions of episodes) defined by the first storyline forlater presentation to the user.

In some embodiments, if the user selected the second storyline, controlcircuitry 404 may generate for playback the second set of episodes(e.g., Ser. 2, Ep. 2; Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep. 2; Ser. 4, Ep. 2; andSer. 4, Ep. 3) in the order defined by the second storyline. In someembodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate for display onlyportions of episodes defined by the first storyline. In someembodiments, control circuitry 404 may schedule a recording of theepisodes (or portions of episodes) defined by the second storyline forlater presentation to the user.

FIG. 7 depicts another illustrative flow diagram of a process 700 forgenerating a storyline interface in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure. Process 700 may be executed by control circuitry 404 (e.g.,in a manner instructed to control circuitry 404 by the media guidanceapplication). Control circuitry 404 may be a part of user equipment(e.g., user television equipment 502, user computer equipment 504,and/or wireless communications device 506), or of a remote serverseparated from the user equipment by way of communications network 514.

Process 700 begins at 702, where control circuitry 404 identifies atleast two storylines relating to a plurality of interrelated series,each series comprising a plurality of sequential episodes. In someembodiments, the plurality of interrelated series can include a firstseries, and at least one of a sequel series, prequel series, crossoverseries, or series that occurs in the shared imaginary universe as thefirst series. In some embodiments, the interrelated series may beinterrelated in any other way. In some embodiments, the plurality ofinterrelated series includes the first series, second series, thirdseries, and fourth series described with respect to FIG. 1A. In someembodiments, the plurality of episodes may include Ser. 1, Eps. 1-5;Ser. 2, Eps. 1-2; Ser. 3, Eps. 1-3; and Ser. 4, Eps. 1-3 as depicted byFIG. 1A.

In some embodiments, the plurality of interrelated series includes theseries related to the “Arrowverse” plurality of series. For example, theplurality of interrelated series may include the “Arrow” TV series. Theplurality of interrelated series may include the “Flash” TV series,which is a spin-off of the “Arrow” TV series. The plurality ofinterrelated series may include the “Legends of Tomorrow” TV serieswhich take place in the same functional universe as the “Arrow” TVseries. The plurality of interrelated series may further include the“Supergirl” TV series which includes multiple crossovers with the“Arrow” TV series and the “Flash” TV series.

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may identify two storylines,(e.g., storyline 1 and storyline 2 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments,each storyline may define a sequence of some episodes (or portions ofepisodes) from the plurality of episodes. In some embodiments, controlcircuitry 404 may receive the storylines from a remote serve (e.g.,media guidance data sources 518). In some embodiments, control circuitry404 may identify storylines by analyzing metadata of the episodes. Forexample, control circuitry 404 may identify a storyline relating to acertain character of the plurality of series, by determining that onlysome episodes include metadata identifying that character.

In some embodiments, each storyline may identify an order of providingthe interrelated series that is different from the sequential order ofthe series and traverses at least a portion of an episode of a firstseries of the plurality of interrelated series and a portion of anepisode of a second series of the plurality of interrelated series. Insome embodiments, the first storyline may be a storyline of a particularcharacter (e.g., Kara Zor-El from the “Arrowverse” plurality of series).In this example, the first storyline may include all episodes (orportions of episodes) that feature this particular character.

For example, the first storyline may include some episodes (or portionsof episodes) of the “Arrow” TV series and the “Flash” TV series thatfeature the Kara Zor-El character, as well as all episodes of the“Supergirl” TV series (as they all feature the Kara Zor-El character).In some embodiments, the first storyline may define the order ofpresentation of the relevant episodes that is different from the orderin which the episodes were original aired. For example, the firststoryline may chronologically present the storyline of the Kara Zor-Elcharacter, even if the portions of the storyline relevant to Kara Zor-Elwere originally presented out of chronological order.

In some embodiments, the second storyline may be a storyline relevant toa certain event. For example, the second storyline may be a storyline ofmajor characters struggling against a shared antagonist. In thisexample, the second storyline may include all episodes (or portions ofepisodes) that are relevant to the particular event across the pluralityof series. In some embodiments, the second storyline may define theorder of presentation of the relevant episodes that is different fromthe order in which the episodes were original aired. For example, thesecond storyline may chronologically present the storyline a certainevent (e.g., its origins and its aftermath), even if that storyline wasoriginal presented out of chronological order.

Process 700 continues at 704, where control circuitry 404 may generatefor display a storyline selection interface. In some embodiments,control circuitry 404 may generate the storyline selection interface onuser television equipment 502 or user computer equipment 504. In someembodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate the storyline selectioninterface on one of displays 100, 120, 140 as depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B,and 1C.

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate for display anidentifier for each of the episodes of each of the plurality ofinterrelated series. For example, control circuitry 404 may generateidentifiers for display on user television equipment 502 or usercomputer equipment 504. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 maygenerate the identifiers of the plurality of episodes for display asdepicted on display 100 of FIG. 1A, display 120 of FIG. 1B, or display140 of FIG. 1C. For example, control circuitry 404 may generate ageometric shape with a label to identify each episode. In someembodiments, the geometric shapes may be arranged by control circuitry404 on a display in a sequential order (e.g., the order of the originalbroadcast). In some embodiments, the geometric shapes may be connectedby arrows to demonstrate the original order of each series of theplurality of series.

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may further generate fordisplay a storyline selection interface by performing all or some ofsteps 706-716. Steps 706-716 may be performed simultaneously,optionally, or sequentially.

At 706, control circuitry 404 may identify a first set of the episodesof the plurality of interrelated series that are traversed by a firststoryline of the at least two storylines. In some embodiments, the firststoryline may be a data-structure that is received from a remote server(e.g., media guidance data source 518). The data-structure mayexplicitly define which episodes of the plurality of series aretraversed by a first storyline of the at least two storylines. Forexample, the data-structure may be a table, as depicted below:

TABLE 1 Order Number Episode Portion of the episodes 1 Ser. 1, Ep. 3Entire Episode 2 Ser. 1, Ep. 4 Entire Episode 3 Ser. 1, Ep. 5 EntireEpisode 4 Ser. 4, Ep. 1 0:25-0:50

In this example, Table 1 defines which episodes are traversed by thefirst storyline, the order of traversal, and which portion of theepisode is relevant. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may usethe data-structure (e.g., as depicted Table 1) to identify a first setof the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series that aretraversed by a first storyline (e.g., the first set may include Ser. 1,Ep. 3; Ser. 1, Ep. 4; Ser. 1, Ep. 5; and Ser. 4, Ep. 1).

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may identify a first set ofthe episodes of the plurality of interrelated series by comparingmetadata of the first storyline to the metadata of episodes. Forexample, if the metadata of the first storyline includes a charactername, control circuitry 404 may include in the first set of the episodesall episodes of the plurality of series that have metadata identifyingthat character.

At step 710, control circuitry 404 may graphically modify identifiers ofthe first set of the plurality of episodes to indicate relevance to thefirst storyline. For example, if the first set includes Ser. 1, Ep. 3;Ser. 1, Ep. 4; Ser. 1, Ep. 5; and Ser. 4, Ep. 1, then identifiers ofthose episodes may be modified to be indicative of the first storyline.For example, control circuitry 404 may modify the color of theidentifiers. For example, the background of the identifiers may bemodified to include a first color (e.g., a color indicted by label 104of FIG. 1A).

At 708, control circuitry 404 may identify a second set of the episodesof the plurality of interrelated series that are traversed by a secondstoryline of the at least two storylines. In some embodiments, thesecond storyline may be a data-structure that is received from a remoteserver (e.g., media guidance data source 518). The data-structure mayexplicitly define which episodes of the plurality of series aretraversed by the second storyline of the at least two storylines. Forexample, the data-structure, may be a table, as depicted below:

TABLE 2 Order Number Episode Portion of the episodes 1 Ser. 2, Ep. 2Entire Episode 2 Ser. 1, Ep. 1 0:30-0:45 3 Ser. 1, Ep. 2 Entire Episode4 Ser. 4, Ep. 2 Entire Episode 5 Ser. 4, Ep. 3 Entire Episode

In this example, Table 2 defines which episodes are traversed by thesecond storyline, the order of traversal, and which portion of theepisode is relevant. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may usethe data-structure (e.g., as depicted Table 1) to identify a second setof the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series that aretraversed by a second storyline (e.g., the second set may include Ser.2, Ep. 2; Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep. 2; Ser. 4, Ep. 2; and Ser. 4, Ep.3).

In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may identify a second set ofthe episodes of the plurality of interrelated series by comparingmetadata of the second storyline to the metadata of the episodes. Forexample, if the metadata of the second storyline includes a charactername, control circuitry 404 may include in the second set of theepisodes all episodes of the plurality of series that have metadataidentifying that character.

At step 716, control circuitry 404 may graphically modify identifiers ofthe second set of the plurality of episodes to indicate relevance to thesecond storyline. For example, if the second set includes Ser. 2, Ep. 2;Ser. 1, Ep. 1; Ser. 1, Ep. 2; Ser. 4, Ep. 2; and Ser. 4, Ep. 3, thenidentifiers of those episodes may be modified to be indicative of thesecond storyline. For example, control circuitry 404 may modify thecolor of the identifiers. For example, the background of the identifiersmay be modified to include a second color (e.g., a color indicted bylabel 104 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the identifiers of thesecond set of episodes may be modified as depicted by FIG. 1A, 1B or 1C.

At step 714, control circuitry 404 may generate for display a firststoryline identifier (e.g., first storyline identifier 108 of FIG. 1A).For example, control circuitry 404 may generate a first storylineidentifier for display on user television equipment 502 or user computerequipment 504, or one of displays 100, 120, 140 of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate the firststoryline identifier to include a button (or any other user interfaceelement) with a text label (e.g., “Storyline 1” or a text relevant tothe first storyline). In some embodiments, the first storylineidentifier may be used by the user to select the first storyline forplayback.

At step 716, control circuitry 404 may generate for display a secondstoryline identifier (e.g., second storyline identifier 110 of FIG. 1A).For example, control circuitry 404 may generate a second storylineidentifier for display on user television equipment 502 or user computerequipment 504, or one of displays 100, 120, 140 of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate the secondstoryline identifier to include a button (or any other user interfaceelement) with a text label (e.g., “Storyline 1” or a text relevant tothe second storyline). In some embodiments, the second storylineidentifier may be used by the user to select the second storyline forplayback.

Process 700 continues at step 718, where control circuitry 404 may takea different action based on receiving a different selection from theuser (e.g., via user input interface 410). In some embodiments, if thecontrol circuitry 404 receives a selection of the first storylineidentifier from the user, process 700 continues at step 720. In someembodiments, if the control circuitry 404 receives a selection of thesecond storyline identifier from the user, process 700 continues at step722.

At 720, control circuitry 404 may provide interrelated series to a userdevice in the order specified by the first storyline. For example,control circuitry 404 may generate for display episodes (or portions ofepisodes) of the first set of episodes (e.g., as identified by Table 1),in the order specified by the first storyline (e.g., as specified byTable 1). In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may schedule arecording of the episodes (or portions of episodes) defined by the firststoryline for later presentation to the user.

At 722, control circuitry 404 may provide interrelated series to a userdevice in the order specified by the second storyline. For example,control circuitry 404 may generate for display episodes (or portions ofepisodes) of the second set of episodes (e.g., as identified by Table2), in the order specified by the second storyline (e.g., as specifiedby Table 2). In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may schedule arecording of the episodes (or portions of episodes) defined by thesecond storyline for later presentation to the user.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative flow diagram of a process 800 forcreating sets of episodes, in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosure. Process 800 may be executed by control circuitry 404, forexample, in a manner instructed to control circuitry 404 by the mediaguidance application. In some embodiments, process 800 is executed as apart of block 706 or 708.

Process 800 begins at 802, wherein control circuitry 404 retrieves afirst storyline metadata. In some embodiments, first storyline metadatamay be retrieved from local storage (e.g., storage 408) or remote server(e.g., media guidance data source 518). In some embodiments, thestoryline metadata may be inputted by the user. For example, the usermay be asked to input search string relating to a storyline the userwants to experience. In some embodiments, the first storyline metadatamay comprise at least one of character metadata, title metadata, orchronology metadata. For example, first storyline metadata may bedefined by a name of a character (e.g., “Kara Zor-E1”), a title of anevent (e.g., “attack of Music Meister”), or chronology data (e.g., allin-universe events between 2008-2012).

Process 800 continues at 804, wherein control circuitry 404 retrieves asecond storyline metadata. In some embodiments, steps 802 and 804 may beperformed simultaneously, sequentially or optionally. In someembodiments, the second storyline metadata may be retrieved from localstorage (e.g., storage 408) or remote server (e.g., media guidance datasource 518). In some embodiments, the second storyline metadata may beinputted by the user. For example, the user may be asked to inputssearch string relating to a storyline the user wants to experience. Insome embodiments, the second storyline metadata may comprise at leastone of character metadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata. Forexample, first storyline metadata may define a name of a character(e.g., “Kara Zor-El”), a title of an event (e.g., “attack of MusicMeister”), or chronology data (e.g., all in-universe events between2008-2012).

Process 800 continues to steps 806-810. In some embodiments, steps806-810 may be repeated for each particular episode of the plurality ofepisodes of the interrelated series.

At 806, control circuitry 404 may retrieve particular metadataassociated with a particular episode. For example, the particularmetadata may be retrieved from local storage (e.g., storage 408) orremote server (e.g., media guidance data source 518).

At 808, control circuitry 404 may, in response to determining that theparticular metadata matches the first storyline metadata, include theparticular episode in the first set of the episodes. For example, if thefirst storyline metadata includes a character name (e.g., “KaraZor-El”), control circuitry 404 may check if the particular metadataalso includes a reference to that character name. If so, controlcircuitry 404 may include the particular episode in the first set of theepisodes (e.g. as part of step 706).

At 810, control circuitry 404 may, in response to determining that theparticular metadata matches the second storyline metadata, include theparticular episode into the second set of the episodes. For example, ifthe second storyline metadata includes a chronology data (e.g., year2010), control circuitry 404 may check if the particular metadata alsoincludes a reference to that chronology data. If so, control circuitry404 may include the particular episode into the second set of theepisodes (e.g., as part of step 708).

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative flow diagram of a process 900 forgenerating episode identifiers, in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosure. Process 900 may be executed by control circuitry 404,for example, in a manner instructed to control circuitry 404 by themedia guidance application. In some embodiments, process 900 is executedas a part of block 704.

Process 900 begins at 902, wherein control circuitry 404 generates fordisplay an identifier for each of the episodes of each of the pluralityof interrelated series. For example, control circuitry 404 may generatethe identifiers for display on display 412, display 100, display 120, ordisplay 140. In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate theidentifiers in response to a request by the user. In some embodiments,control circuitry 404 may generate the identifiers at a pre-definedpoint in the series. For example, when the series begins, controlcircuitry 404 may present an option to the user to either watch theseries as originally aired or in accordance with one of the storylines.In some embodiments, control circuitry 404 may generate for display anidentifier for each of the episodes of each of the plurality ofinterrelated series by performing steps 904 and 906.

At step 904, control circuitry 404 may generate for display a geometricshape for each of the episodes of each of the plurality of interrelatedseries. For example, a rectangle (or another shape) may be generated foreach of the episodes. For example, geometric shapes may be generated asshown in FIG. 1A.

At step 964, control circuitry 404 may generate for display visualconnectors that connect the geometric shapes based on the sequentialorder of the series. For example, arrows may be generated by controlcircuitry 404 to connect the rectangles (or other shapes) in accordanceto the order in which the episodes were original aired.

FIG. 10 depicts yet another illustrative flow diagram of a process 1000for a process of generating a storyline interface, in accordance withsome embodiments of the disclosure. Process 1000 may be executed bycontrol circuitry 404, for example, in a manner instructed to controlcircuitry 404 by the media guidance application. In some embodiments,process 1000 is executed as a part of block 704.

Process 1000 begins at 1002, wherein control circuitry 404 generates fordisplay a storyline selection interface. In some embodiments, thestoryline selection interface may be generated as described in step 704of FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the storyline selection interface may befurther modified as by control circuitry 404 performing one or severalof series of steps, such as steps 1002-1006, steps 1008-1010, steps1012-1014, or steps 1016-1022. In some embodiments, these series ofsteps may be performed optionally, simultaneously, or consecutively.

At 1004, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set (e.g., as defined at step706) to include a first color (e.g., red). For example, geometric shapeidentifiers of episodes from the first set may be modified to include ared background, a red border, or a red outline.

At 1006, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the second set (e.g., as defined at step708) to include a second color (e.g., blue) that is different from thefirst color. For example, geometric shape identifiers of episodes fromthe first set may be modified to include a blue background (e.g., asdepicted in FIG. 1A), a blue border, or a blue outline.

At 1008, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set (e.g., as defined at step706) to comprise a first geometric shape. For example, geometric shapeidentifiers of episodes from the first set may be modified to take on arounded shape.

At 1010, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the second set (e.g., as defined at step708) to comprise a second geometric shape different from the firstshape. For example, geometric shape identifiers of episodes from thesecond set may be modified to take on a hexagonal shape (e.g., asdepicted in FIG. 1B).

At 1012, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set (e.g., as defined at step706) to comprise a first size. For example, geometric shape identifiersof episodes from the first set may be increased by 50% (or any otherscale).

At 1014, control circuitry 404 may modify the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the second set (e.g., as defined at step708) to comprise a second size, different from the first size. Forexample, geometric shape identifiers of episodes from the first set maybe increased by 20% (or any other scale different from the scale in step1012).

At 1016, control circuitry 404 may generate a first elongated shapeindicative of the first storyline, wherein the first elongated shapeintersects geometric shapes of identifiers of episodes from the firstset (e.g., as defined at step 706). For example, control circuitry 404may generate a first arrow that may intersect only identifiers ofepisodes from the first set, but not any other identifiers. In someembodiments, the first arrow may comprise a first color, style, or labelindicative of the first storyline.

At 1018, control circuitry 404 may generate a second elongated shapeindicative of the second storyline, wherein the second elongated shapeintersects geometric shapes of identifiers of episodes from the secondset (e.g., as defined at step 708). For example, control circuitry 404may generate a second arrow (e.g., arrow 144 of FIG. 1C) that mayintersect only identifiers of episodes from the first set, but not anyother identifiers. In some embodiments, the second arrow may comprise asecond color, style, or label indicative of the second storyline.

At 1020 (which is performed optionally), control circuitry 404 may foreach particular geometric shape intersected by the first elongated shape(e.g., a first arrow), modify the particular geometric shape based onwhich portion of an episode associated with the particular geometricshape is traversed by the first storyline. For example, if the firststoryline traverses the entirety of an episode, the identifier of thatepisode may be fully traversed by the first arrow. In another example,if the first storyline traverses a portion (e.g., the last 25% of anepisode), the identifier of that episode may be partially traversed bythe first arrow (e.g., the first arrow may intersect the last 25% of theidentifier).

At 1020 (which is performed optionally), control circuitry 404 may foreach particular geometric shape intersected by the second elongatedshape (e.g., the second arrow), modify the particular geometric shapebased on which portion of an episode associated with the particulargeometric shape is traversed by the second storyline. For example, ifthe second storyline traverses the entirety of an episode, theidentifier of that episode may be fully traversed by the second arrow.In another example, if the second storyline traverses a portion (e.g.,the first 25% of an episode), the identifier of that episode may bepartially traversed by the second arrow (e.g., the second arrow mayintersect the first 25% of the identifier).

It is contemplated that the steps or descriptions of each of FIGS. 6-10may be used with any other embodiment of this disclosure. It iscontemplated that some steps or descriptions of each of FIGS. 6-10 maybe optional and may be omitted in some embodiments. In addition, thesteps and descriptions described in relation to FIGS. 6-10 may be donein alternative orders or in parallel to further the purposes of thisdisclosure. For example, each of these steps may be performed in anyorder or in parallel or substantially simultaneously to reduce lag orincrease the speed of the system or method. Furthermore, it should benoted that any of the devices or equipment discussed in relation toFIGS. 4-5 could be used to perform one or more of the steps in FIGS.6-10.

It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that methodsinvolved in the present disclosure may be embodied in a computer programproduct that includes a computer-usable and/or readable medium. Forexample, such a computer-usable medium may consist of a read-only memorydevice, such as a CD-ROM disk or conventional ROM device, or a randomaccess memory, such as a hard drive device or a computer diskette,having a computer-readable program code stored thereon. It should alsobe understood that methods, techniques, and processes involved in thepresent disclosure may be executed using processing circuitry. Theprocessing circuitry, for instance, may be a general purpose processor,a customized integrated circuit (e.g., an ASIC), or a field-programmablegate array (FPGA) within user equipment 400, media content source 516,or media guidance data source 518.

The processes discussed above in FIGS. 6-10 are intended to beillustrative and not limiting. One skilled in the art would appreciatethat the steps of the processes in FIGS. 6-10 discussed herein may beomitted, modified, combined, and/or rearranged, and any additional stepsmay be performed without departing from the scope of the disclosure.More generally, the above disclosure is meant to be exemplary and notlimiting. Only the claims that follow are meant to set bounds as to whatthe present invention includes. Furthermore, it should be noted that thefeatures and limitations described in any one embodiment may be appliedto any other embodiment herein, and flowcharts or examples relating toone embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitablemanner, done in different orders, or done in parallel. In addition, thesystems and methods described herein may be performed in real time. Itshould also be noted, the systems and/or methods described above may beapplied to, or used in accordance with, other systems and/or methods.

While some portions of this disclosure may make reference to“convention,” any such reference is merely for the purpose of providingcontext to the invention(s) of the instant disclosure, and does not formany admission as to what constitutes the state of the art.

1-51. (canceled)
 52. A method for providing a narrative based mediacontent, the method comprising: identifying at least two narrativesrelating to a plurality of interrelated series, each series comprising aplurality of sequential episodes, wherein each narrative identifies anorder of providing the interrelated series that is different from thesequential order of the series and traverses at least a portion of anepisode of a first series of the plurality of interrelated series and aportion of an episode of a second series of the plurality ofinterrelated series; generating for display a narrative selectioninterface by: generating for display an identifier for each of theepisodes of each of the plurality of interrelated series; generating fordisplay visual connectors that connect each identifier based on thesequential order of the series; identifying a first set of the episodesof the plurality of interrelated series that are traversed by a firstnarrative of the at least two narratives; generating a first shapeindicative of the first narrative, wherein the first shape intersectscorresponding identifiers of episodes from the first set; identifying asecond set of the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series thatare traversed by a second narrative of the at least two narrative; andgenerating a second shape indicative of the second narrative, whereinthe second shape intersects corresponding identifiers of episodes fromthe second set; in response to receiving a selection of the first setfrom the user, providing interrelated series to a user device in theorder specified by the first narrative; and in response to receiving aselection of the second set from the user, providing the interrelatedseries to the user device in the order specified by the secondnarrative.
 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising: generatingfor display an identifier of a movie that is traversed by the firstnarrative; and graphically modifying the first shape to intersect withthe identifier of the movie to indicate relevance to the firstnarrative.
 54. The method of claim 52, further compromising: retrievinga first narrative metadata; retrieving a second narrative metadata; foreach particular episode of the plurality of interrelated series:retrieving particular metadata associated with that particular episode;and in response to determining that the particular metadata matches thefirst narrative metadata, including the particular episode into thefirst set of the episodes; in response to determining that theparticular metadata matches the second narrative metadata, including theparticular episode into the second set of the episodes.
 55. The methodof claim 54, wherein: the first narrative metadata comprises at leastone of character metadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata; andthe second narrative metadata comprises at least one of charactermetadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata.
 56. The method ofclaim 52, wherein generating for display a narrative selection interfacefurther comprises: generating for display an identifier for each of theepisodes of each of the plurality of interrelated series by: generatingfor display a geometric shape for each of the episodes of each of theplurality of interrelated series; and generating for display visualconnectors that connect the geometric shapes based on the sequentialorder of the series.
 57. The method of claim 56, wherein generating fordisplay a narrative selection interface further comprises: modifying thegeometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the first set to includea first color; and modifying the geometric shape of identifiers ofepisodes from the second set to include a second color different fromthe first color.
 58. The method of claim 56, wherein generating fordisplay a narrative selection interface further comprises: modifying thegeometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the first set tocomprise a first geometric shape; and modifying the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set to comprise a secondgeometric shape different from the first shape.
 59. The method of claim56, wherein generating for display a narrative selection interfacefurther comprises: modifying the geometric shape of identifiers ofepisodes from the first set to comprise a first size; and modifying thegeometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the first set tocomprise a second geometric size different from the first size.
 60. Themethod of claim 56, wherein the first shape indicative of the firstnarrative comprises an elongated shape that intersects geometric shapesof identifiers of episodes from the first set; and wherein the secondshape indicative of the first narrative comprises an elongated shapethat intersects geometric shapes of identifiers of episodes from thesecond set; and
 61. The method of claim 52, wherein: for each particulargeometric shape intersected by the first shape, modifying the particulargeometric shape based on which portion of an episode associated with theparticular geometric shape is traversed by the first narrative; and foreach particular geometric shape intersected by the second shape,modifying the particular geometric shape based on which portion of anepisode associated with the particular geometric shape is traversed bythe second narrative.
 62. A system for providing a narrative based mediacontent, the system comprising: control circuitry configured to:identify at least two narratives relating to a plurality of interrelatedseries, each series comprising a plurality of sequential episodes,wherein each narrative identifies an order of providing the interrelatedseries that is different from the sequential order of the series andtraverses at least a portion of an episode of a first series of theplurality of interrelated series and a portion of an episode of a secondseries of the plurality of interrelated series; generate for display anarrative selection interface by: generating for display an identifierfor each of the episodes of each of the plurality of interrelatedseries; generate for display visual connectors that connect eachidentifier based on the sequential order of the series; identifying afirst set of the episodes of the plurality of interrelated series thatare traversed by a first narrative of the at least two narratives;generate a first shape indicative of the first narrative, wherein thefirst shape intersects corresponding identifiers of episodes from thefirst set; identifying a second set of the episodes of the plurality ofinterrelated series that are traversed by a second narrative of the atleast two narratives; generate a second shape indicative of the secondnarrative, wherein the second shape intersects corresponding identifiersof episodes from the second set; in response to receiving a selection ofthe first set from the user, provide interrelated series to a userdevice in the order specified by the first narrative; and in response toreceiving a selection of the second set from the user, provide theinterrelated series to the user device in the order specified by thesecond narrative.
 63. The system of claim 62, wherein the controlcircuitry is configured to: generate for display an identifier of amovie that is traversed by the first narrative; and graphically modifythe first shape to intersect with the identifier of the movie toindicate relevance to the first narrative.
 64. The system of claim 62,wherein the control circuitry is configured to: retrieve a firstnarrative metadata; retrieve a second narrative metadata; for eachparticular episode of the plurality of interrelated series: retrieveparticular metadata associated with that particular episode; and inresponse to determining that the particular metadata matches the firstnarrative metadata, include the particular episode into the first set ofthe episodes; in response to determining that the particular metadatamatches the second narrative metadata, include the particular episodeinto the second set of the episodes.
 65. The system of claim 64,wherein: the first narrative metadata comprises at least one ofcharacter metadata, title metadata, or chronology metadata; and thesecond narrative metadata comprises at least one of character metadata,title metadata, or chronology metadata.
 66. The system of claim 62,wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate fordisplay a narrative selection interface by: generating for display anidentifier for each of the episodes of each of the plurality ofinterrelated series by: generating for display a geometric shape foreach of the episodes of each of the plurality of interrelated series;and generating for display visual connectors that connect the geometricshapes based on the sequential order of the series.
 67. The system ofclaim 66, wherein the control circuitry is further configured togenerate for display a narrative selection interface by: modifying thegeometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the first set to includea first color; and modifying the geometric shape of identifiers ofepisodes from the second set to include a second color different formthe first color.
 68. The system of claim 66, wherein the controlcircuitry is further configured to generate for display a narrativeselection interface by: modifying the geometric shape of identifiers ofepisodes from the first set to comprise a first geometric shape; andmodifying the geometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the firstset to comprise a second geometric shape different from the first shape.69. The system of claim 66, wherein the control circuitry is furtherconfigured to generate for display a narrative selection interface by:modifying the geometric shape of identifiers of episodes from the firstset to comprise a first size; and modifying the geometric shape ofidentifiers of episodes from the first set to comprise a secondgeometric size different from the first size.
 70. The system of claim62, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: for eachparticular geometric shape intersected by the first shape, modify theparticular geometric shape based on which portion of an episodeassociated with the particular geometric shape is traversed by the firstnarrative; and for each particular geometric shape intersected by thesecond shape, modify the particular geometric shape based on whichportion of an episode associated with the particular geometric shape istraversed by the second narrative.
 71. A method for providing anarrative based media content, the method comprising: identifying atleast two narratives relating to a plurality of interrelated series,each series comprising a plurality of sequential episodes, wherein eachnarrative identifies an order of providing the interrelated series thatis different from the sequential order of the series and traverses atleast a portion of an episode of a first series of the plurality ofinterrelated series and a portion of an episode of a second series ofthe plurality of interrelated series; generating for display a narrativeselection interface by: generating for display an identifier for each ofthe episodes of each of the plurality of interrelated series, theidentifier comprising a geometric shape; generating for display visualconnectors that connect the geometric shapes based on the sequentialorder of the series; identifying a first set of the episodes of theplurality of interrelated series that are traversed by a first narrativeof the at least two narratives; graphically modifying identifiers of thefirst set of the plurality of episodes to indicate relevance to thefirst narrative; identifying a second set of the episodes of theplurality of interrelated series that are traversed by a secondnarrative of the at least two narrative; graphically modifyingidentifiers of the second set of the plurality of episodes that arerelevant to the second narrative to indicate relevance to the secondnarrative; generating a first elongated shape indicative of the firstnarrative, wherein the first elongated shape intersects geometric shapesof identifiers of episodes from the first set; and generating a secondelongated shape indicative of the second narrative, wherein the secondelongated shape intersects geometric shapes of identifiers of episodesfrom the second set; in response to receiving a selection of the firstnarrative identifier from the user, providing interrelated series to auser device in the order specified by the first narrative; and inresponse to receiving a selection of the second narrative identifierfrom the user, providing the interrelated series to the user device inthe order specified by the second narrative